2008 BMW M3 COUPE wheel

Wheels and tires
112
Tire identification marks
Knowledge of the labeling on the side of the tire
makes it easier to identify and choose the right
tires.
Tire size
Speed code letter
Q = up to 100 mph/160 km/h
T = up to 118 mph/190 km/h
H = up to 131 mph/210 km/h
V = up to 150 mph/240 km/h
W = up to 167 mph/270 km/h
Y = up to 186 mph/300 km/h
Z = over 150 mph/240 km/h
Tire Identification Number
Tires with DOT codes meet the guidelines of
the US Department of Transportation.
DOT code:
Tire age
The manufacturing date of tires is contained in
the tire coding: DOT … 0708 means that the
tire was manufactured in week 7 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.
Those grades represent the tire's ability to stop
on wet pavement as measured under controlled
conditions on specified government test sur-
faces 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.< e.g.
Nominal width in mm
Aspect ratio in Ξ
Radial belt construction
Rim diameter in inches
Load rating,
not on ZR tires
Speed code letter, in
front of the R on ZR tires
235/40 R18100 V
245/35 ZR19
e.g.
Manufacturer's code
for tire make
Tire size and
tire design
Tire ageDOT xxxx xxx 4607

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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.<
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 tread depth should not drop below 1/8 in/
3 mm, although, for example, European legisla-
tion 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.<
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

Wheels and tires
114 work is not carried out properly, there is a dan-
ger of subsequent damage and related safety
h a z a r d s . M a k e s u re t h a t t h e n e w w h ee l s a r e b a l-
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
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. When selecting tires, also take their load
capacity into account. 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 or DSC.
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 page70. Your BMW center
will be glad to advise you.
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.<
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 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. With standard-equipment tires

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115
and other mixed tire sizes, swapping wheels
between the axles is not permissible.
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 manufac-
turer's instructions when mounting snow
chains. Do not exceed a speed of 30 mph or
50 km/h.
Ensure that the snow chains are sufficiently
tensioned at all times. If necessary, retension as
specified by the snow chain manufacturer.
Do not initialize the Flat Tire Monitor if
snow chains are mounted, otherwise the
instrument might issue an incorrect reading.<

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Light-alloy wheels
For technical reasons, dust is generated during
braking that is deposited on the light-alloy
wheels. Remove the dust regularly using acid-
free rim cleaner.
Do not use aggressive, acidic, strongly
alkaline and abrasive cleaning agents or
steam jets over 1407/606, otherwise dam-
age may occur.<
Outside sensors / cameras
Keep the sensors and cameras on the
outside of the vehicle, e.g. Park Distance
Control, clean and free of ice to ensure that they
remain fully functional.<
Interior care
Upholstery / cloth trim
Vacuum regularly with a vacuum cleaner to
remove superficial dirt.
To treat severe stains, e.g. from beverages, use
a soft sponge or lint-free microfiber cloth in
combination with suitable interior cleaners. Fol-
low the instructions on the packaging.
Clean the upholstery down to the seams
using a sweeping motion. Avoid strong
rubbing.<
Opened Velcro fasteners on pants or
other articles of clothing can damage the
seat covers. Ensure that Velcro fasteners are
closed.<
Leather / leather trim
The leather used by BMW is a high quality
natural product. Slight irregularities in the
leather are a typical characteristic of natural
leather.<
Dust and road grit in the pores and folds of the
leather have an abrasive effect, leading to
increased wear and causing the leather surface
to become brittle prematurely. Therefore, fre-
quently clean the leather of dust using a cloth or
vacuum cleaner.In particular, ensure that light-colored leather is
cleaned regularly as it has a tendency to soil
more easily.
Treat the leather twice a year using a leather
lotion as dirt and grease will gradually attack the
leather's protective layer.
Carpets / cargo bay
You can vacuum the carpets and floor mats or
clean them with interior cleaner if heavily soiled.
The floor mats can be removed for cleaning.
When replacing the mats, ensure that the seat
rails do not extend over the floor mats, as this
may damage the mats.
Lint on the floor mats occurs for technical rea-
sons and can be removed by vacuuming
repeatedly.
Interior plastic parts
>Imitation leather surfaces
>Lamp glasses
>Display pane of instrument cluster
>Matt parts
Clean with water and solvent-free plastic
cleaner if necessary.
Fine wood parts
Clean fine wood trim and fine wood parts with a
damp cloth. Wipe dry with a soft cloth.
Safety belts
Do not clean with cleaning agents as
these may destroy the fabric.<
Interior sensors / cameras
To clean interior sensors and cameras, e.g. of
the High-Beam Assistant, use a lint-free cloth
moistened with glass cleaner.
Displays
To clean the displays, e.g. of the radio or instru-
ment cluster, use a display cleaning cloth or a
soft, non-abrasive, lint-free cloth.

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129
3.Push the wire bracket out of the anchor
towards the right and fold it up.
4.Disconnect the plug, change the bulb and
reconnect the plug.
5.Insert the bulb.
6.Fold the wire bracket down and engage it.
7.Reattach the cover.
Turn signals, front
PY24W Silver Vision bulb, 24 watts
The turn signal bulb can be changed via a cover
in the wheel arch.
1.Turn the respective wheel inwards.
2.Using a coin, turn both locks of the cover all
the way to the left, arrows 1, and remove the
cover.
3.Turn the bulb holder to the left, arrow2, and
take it out.
4.Turn the bulb socket in the bulb holder to
the right for removal and replacement.
5.Insert the bulb holder and lock it by turning
it to the right.
6.Attach the cover by positioning the bottom
edge first and then turning both locks all the
way to the right.
Tail lamps
>Turn signal:
PY21W bulb, 21 watts
>Brake lamp in the luggage compartment lid:
H21W bulb, 21 watts
>Other lamps:
W16W bulb, 16 watts
The tail lamps are divided in two parts. One part
is in the luggage compartment lid, the other is in
the fender.
1Turn signal
2Roadside parking lamp/tail lamp, LED
3Backup lamp
4Brake lamp, consisting of two individual
bulbs
5Brake Force Display
6Roadside parking lamp/tail lamp, LED
If the bulbs 2 and 6 malfunction, please contact
your BMW center or a workshop that works
according to BMW repair procedures with cor-
respondingly trained personnel.
Fender-mounted lamps
Coupe
1.Left-hand side: use a screwdriver to pry off
the cover in the cargo bay and remove the
cover.
Right-hand side: remove the cover from the
right-hand side panel of the cargo bay.
2.Loosen the bulb holder at the clip, see
arrow, and pull out.

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License plate lamp, center brake lamp,
rear lamps and side turn signal
indicators
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.
Repairing a flat tire with the
M Mobility System
To repair a flat tire, your BMW M3 includes an
M Mobility System. With this system you can
apply a sealant to the inside of the tire to seal
the damaged section, restore the tire inflation
pressure and continue on your trip.
Safety measures in the event of a flat tire:
Park the vehicle as far away from moving
traffic as possible and on a firm surface. Switch
on the hazard warning flashers.
Apply the parking brake and engage first gear
or reverse. Have all occupants leave the vehicle
and move beyond the danger zone, e. g. behind
the guard rails.
If necessary, erect a warning triangle
* or warn-
ing flasher
* at a suitable distance. Adhere to
country-specific regulations.<
Preparations
The M Mobility System is located in the cargo
bay under the floor board.
If possible, leave any foreign bodies that have
penetrated the tire in place.
Instructions on how to use the M Mobility
System can also be found on the device
itself. low the instructions on the sealant bot-
tle.<
Remove the label with the speed restriction
from the sealant bottle and apply it to the steer-
ing wheel.
Please note the expiry date on the sealant
bottle.<
Components of the M Mobility System
1Sealant bottle and label with speed restric-
tion
2Filling hose from sealant bottle to wheel
3Connector and cable for the cigarette
lighter socket
4Holder for the sealant bottle
5Compressor
6On/off switch
7Pressure gauge for displaying the tire infla-
tion pressure
8Screw on pressure gauge to reduce tire
inflation pressure
9Hose to connect compressor and sealant
bottle or compressor and wheel
The connector, cable and connection hose are
stored in the compressor housing.

Replacing components
132
Using the M Mobility System
To repair a flat tire with the M Mobility System,
proceed as follows:
>Fill the sealant, refer to page132.
>Distribute the sealant, refer to page132.
>Produce the tire inflation pressure, refer to
page132.
Filling the sealant
Strictly follow the specified sequence,
otherwise the sealant may escape under
high pressure.<
1.Shake the sealant bottle.
2.Screw connection hose 9 onto the connec-
tor of the sealant bottle.
3.Ensure that screw 8 on the pressure gauge
is closed.
4.Unscrew the dust cap from the valve of the
defective wheel and screw filling hose 2 of
the sealant bottle onto the valve.
5.Insert the sealant bottle into the housing of
the compressor so that the bottle is upright.
6.Ensure that the compressor is switched off,
position 0.
7.Insert connector 3 into the cigarette lighter
socket in the interior of the vehicle, refer to
page90.
8.With the ignition switched on:
Switch on the compressor and let it run for
approx. 3 minutes to fill the sealant. The
inflation pressure of the tire after filling is
unimportant.
9.Switch off the compressor.
10.Detach the hoses from the sealant bottle
connector and from the tire valve.Return the M Mobility System to its storage
location in the vehicle.
Distributing the sealant
Immediately drive approx. 2 miles/3 km to
evenly distribute the sealant in the tire.
Do not exceed a speed of 35 mph/
60 km/h. If possible, do not fall below a
speed of 12 mph/20 km/h.<
Producing the tire inflation pressure
1.After driving approx. 2 miles/3 km, stop at a
suitable location.
2.Connect connection hose9 of the com-
pressor directly to the tire valve.
3.Insert connector 3 into the cigarette lighter
socket in the interior of the vehicle.
4.Adjust the tire inflation pressure to 29 psi/
200 kPa. With the ignition switched on, pro-
ceed as follows:
>To increase the inflation pressure:
Switch on the compressor, position I. To
check the current inflation pressure set-
ting, briefly switch off the compressor.
Do not let the compressor run for
more than 10 minutes, otherwise the
device will overheat and may be dam-
aged.<
>To reduce the inflation pressure: turn
screw 8 on the pressure gauge.
If the inflation pressure is not maintained,
drive the vehicle a second time, refer to
Distributing the sealant. Then repeat steps 1 to
4.
Use of the M Mobility System may be ineffec-
tual for tire damage larger than approx. 0.16 in/
4 mm. Please contact the nearest BMW center,
refer to page135, or a workshop that works
according to BMW repair procedures with cor-
respondingly trained personnel if the tire can-
not be made roadworthy with the M Mobility
System.<
The tire inflation pressure must be at least
29 psi/200 kPa. If it is not, do not continue
driving.<