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Tire Pressure Monitor cannot detect a flat tire, 
refer to page101. Your BMW Sports Activity 
Vehicle 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.
Special characteristics of winter tires
BMW recommends using winter tires for opera-
tion on winter road or at temperatures below 
+45 7/+7 6. Although all-season M+S tires 
provide better winter traction than summer 
tires, they generally fail  to provide the same lev-
els of cold-weather performance as winter tires.
Paying attention to speed
Always observe the maximum permissi-
ble speed for the winter tires, otherwise 
tire damage may occur, wh ich can result in acci-
dents. <
Storage
Store wheels and tires in a cool, dry place with 
as little exposure to lig ht as possible. Always 
protect tires against all co ntact with oil, grease 
and fuels. Do not exceed the maximum tire 
inflation pressure indica ted on the side wall of 
the tire.
Rotating wheels between axles
Even with tires of the same size, BMW 
recommends that you not rotate the front 
tires to the rear or vice  versa as this can nega-
tively affect hand ling characteristics.
When the vehicle is equipped with different 
tires sizes
*, rotating tires from one axle to the 
other is not permitted. <
Snow chains*
BMW only tests certain fine-link snow chains, 
classifies them as road-safe and recommends 
them. Your BMW Sports Activity Vehicle Center 
can provide you with this information.
BMW X5: use is only permitted in pairs on the 
rear wheels with tires of the size:
> 255/55 R 18
> 255/50 R 19
BMW X6: it is only permissible to use snow 
chains in pairs, on the 255/50 R 19 rear wheels.
Observe the manufacturer's instructions when 
mounting snow chains. Do not exceed a speed 
of 30 mph/50 km/h with the chains mounted. After mounting snow chains, do not ini-
tialize the Flat Tire Monitor
*, as otherwise 
incorrect displays can occur.
When you are driving with snow chains, it can 
be beneficial to activate  DTC briefly, refer to 
page 97.< 
Care
266
Steam cleaners/high-pressure 
cleaning jets
When using steam cleaners or high-pres-
sure cleaning jets, make sure to maintain 
a sufficient distance and stay below a maximum 
temperature of 140 7/60 6.
Insufficient distance or excessive pressure or 
temperature can damage pa rts of the vehicle or 
can result in water pene tration. Follow the oper-
ating instructions for  the high-pressure clean-
ing jets. <
When using high-pressure cleaning jets, 
do not remain in one  place for a long time 
and be sure to maintain a distance of at least 
12 in/30 cm from sensors and cameras, e.g. 
Park Distance Control  sensors or rear view 
camera. <
Hand washing
When washing the vehicle by hand, use plenty 
of water and car washing shampoo. Clean the 
vehicle with gentle pressure using a sponge or a 
washing brush.
Before cleaning the windshield, deacti-
vate the rain sensor or  switch off the igni-
tion to prevent unwanted wiper operation. <
Follow local guidelines  for washing vehi-
cles by hand. <
Headlamps
Do not rub dry and never use abrasives or 
strong solvents to clean the covers.
Loosen dirt, e.g. insects, with shampoo or 
insect remover and wash away with plenty of 
water.
Use a window de-icer to remove accumulated 
ice and snow, not a scraper.
Windows
Use a glass cleaner to clean the inside and out-
side surfaces of the windows and the glass sur-
faces of the mirrors.
Do not use quartz-containing cleansers 
to clean glass surfaces of the mirrors. <
Wiper blades
Clean with soapy water and replace regularly to 
prevent streaking.
The presence of wax and sealant residues 
and dirt on the windows leads to streaking 
during wiper operation and results in premature 
wear on wiper blades as well as interference 
with the rain sensor. <
Caring for the vehicle finish
Regular care helps your vehicle retain its value 
and protects the paint from the long-term 
effects of aggressive substances.
Regionally occurring en vironmental factors can 
affect and damage vehicle  finish. It is therefore 
important to tailor the fr equency and extent of 
your car care accordingly.
Immediately remove particularly aggressive 
substances such as sp illed fuel, oil, grease, 
brake fluid, tree resin,  or bird droppings; other-
wise, they may damage your paint.
Repairing paint damage
Repair stone damage  or scratches imme-
diately, depending on  the severity of the 
damage, to prevent the formation of rust. <
BMW recommends having paint damage pro-
fessionally repaired us ing Genuine BMW finish 
materials in accordance  with factory guidelines.
Waxing
Sealant is required when  w a t e r  n o  l o ng e r  b e a ds  
on the clean surface of the paint. Use only prod-
ucts that contain carnauba wax or synthetic wax 
to seal your finish.
Rubber gaskets
Treat only with water or  a rubber care product.
To avoid noise or damage, do not use 
products that contain silicone to care for 
rubber gaskets. <
Chrome components
Particularly after exposure to road salt, thor-
oughly cleanse parts like  the radiator grille, door 
handles, or window frames with plenty of water