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Tire age
For various reasons, such as the development
of brittleness, BMW recommends tire replace-
ment after no more than 6 years, regardless of
the actual wear of the tires.
The manufacturing date of tires is contained in
the tire coding:
DOT ... 0709 means that the tire was manufac-
tured in week 7 of 2009.
Run-Flat Tires
The symbol identifying Run-Flat Tires is a circle
with the letters RSC on the sidewall.
Run-Flat Tires comprise a conditionally self-
supporting tire and a special rim. The reinforce-
ment in the sidewalls ensures that the tire can
continue to be used su bject to certain restric-
tions, even if depressurized.
For information on continuing to drive with a flat
tire, refer to Indication of a flat tire, page 81.
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 trai ned personnel. If this
work is not carried out properly, there is a dan-
ger of subsequent dama ge and related safety
hazards. Make sure that the new wheels are bal-
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 casi ng structures and often
wide variations in tire ag e, which can result in a
limited service life. <
Correct wheels and tires
When mounting new tires or changing over
from summer to winter tires and vice versa,
mount Run-Flat Tires for your own safety. In the
event of a flat, no spare wheel is available. Your
BMW center will be glad to advise you.
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. 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, DSC
or TPM.
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 page 82. Your BMW center
will be glad to advise you.
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Under the hood
Do not work on the car unless you pos-
sess the necessary technical knowledge.
If you are unfamiliar with the statutory guide-
lines, have any work on the vehicle performed
only by a BMW center or by a workshop that
work according to BMW repair procedures with
correspondingly trained pe rsonnel. If this work
is not carried out properly, there is a danger of
subsequent damage and related safety
hazards. <
Hood
Releasing
Pull the lever.
Opening
To avoid damage, make sure that the
wiper arms are against the windshield
before you open the en gine compartment. Do
not open the engine hood before the engine has
cooled down, otherwise injuries may result. <
Push the release lever to the right and open
the hood.
Closing
Close the hood from a height of approx. 16 in/
40 cm with momentum. It must be clearly heard
to engage.
Make sure that the closing path of the
hood is clear, otherwise injuries may
result.
If you see any signs while driving your vehicle
that the hood is not comp letely closed, stop at
once and close it securely. <
Under the hood
200
>
"Measurement inactive. Have this
checked."
Do not add engine oil. You can continue
your journey. Note the newly calculated dis-
tance remaining to the ne xt oil service, refer
to page 69. Have the system checked as
soon as possible.
Adding engine oil
Do not add 1 US quart/1 liter of engine oil until a
corresponding message is shown on the Con-
trol Display.
Add oil within the next 125 miles/200 km;
otherwise, the engine damage could
occur. <
Keep oils, greases, etc. out of the reach of
children and comply with the relevant
warnings on the containers. Otherwise, health
hazards may result. <
Oil change
Have oil changed only at your BMW center or at
a workshop that works according to BMW
repair procedures with correspondingly trained
personnel.
Specified engine oils
The quality of the engine oil selected has critical
significance for the oper ation and service life of
an engine. BMW continuously approves spe-
cific oils after confirming their suitability for use
in its vehicles with extensive testing.
Do not use oil additives as these may
cause engine damage. <
Only use approved BMW High Performance
Synthetic Oil. If BMW High Performance Synthetic Oil is not
available, you can add small quantities of other
synthetic oils in betwee
n oil changes. Only use
oils with the API SM sp ecification or higher.
Your BMW center will be glad to answer
any questions regarding BMW High
Performance Synthetic Oil or approved syn-
thetic oils. <
You can also call BMW of North America at
1-800-831-1117 or visit the website
www.bmwusa.com to obtain this information.
Viscosity ratings
Viscosity is a measure of an oil's flow rating and
is categorized in SAE classes.
Selecting the appropri ate SAE class depends
on the regional climatic conditions in which you
normally drive your BMW.
Approved oils belong to the 0W-40,
0W-30, 5W-40 and 5W-30 SAE
classes. <
These oils can be used fo r driving at all outside
temperatures.
Coolant
Do not add coolant to the cooling system
when the engine is hot. Escaping coolant
can cause burns. <
Coolant consists of half water and half additive.
Not all commercially available additives are suit-
able for your BMW. Ask your BMW center for
suitable additives.
Only use suitable ad ditives, otherwise
engine damage may result. Because
additives are harmful to your health, it is impor-
tant to follow the instructions on the con-
tainers. <
Comply with the appropriate environ-
mental protection regulations when dis-
posing of coolant additives. <
Maintenance
202
Maintenance
BMW Maintenance System
The BMW Maintenance System supports the
preservation of the traffic and operating safety
of your BMW. The objective is to optimize
efforts with respect to minimal vehicle mainte-
nance costs.
If and when you come to sell your BMW, a com-
prehensive record of servicing will prove a sig-
nificant benefit.
Condition Based Service CBS
Sensors and special algo rithms take the differ-
ent driving conditions of your BMW into
account. Condition Based Service uses this to
determine the current and future service
requirements. By letting you define a service
and maintenance regimen that reflects your
own individual requirem ents, the system builds
the basis for trouble-free driving.
On the Control Displa y, you can have the
remaining times or distan ces for selected main-
tenance tasks and any le gally prescribed dates
displayed, refer to page 69:
> Engine oil
> Brake pads, separately for the front
and back
> Brake fluid
> Vehicle check
> Legally mandated in spections depending
on local regulations
Service data in the remote control
Your vehicle continuo usly stores service-
requirement information in the remote control
while you are driving. Your BMW Service Advi-
sor can read out this da ta from the remote con-
trol unit, and propose an optimized mainte-
nance approach. Whenever you take your car in
for servicing you should therefore hand your
BMW Service Advisor the remote control unit
that you last used.
Make sure that the date is always set cor-
rectly, refer to page 72; otherwise the
effectiveness of Condit ion Based Service CBS
is not assured. <
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. <
Socket for On-Board
Diagnosis OBD
Primary components that make up exhaust
emissions can be checked by a device via the
OBD socket.
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This socket is located on the driver's side to the
left, on the bottom of the instrument panel
underneath a cover.
Exhaust emission values
The warning lamp lights up:
The vehicle emissions are raised. The
trip can be continued. Have the car
checked as soon as possible.
Canadian models display this
warning lamp.
The lamp flashes under certain condi-
tions. This indicates excessive misfiring in the
engine. If this happens, you should reduce your
speed and visit your nearest BMW center as
soon as possible. Severe engine misfiring can
quickly lead to serious damage of emissions-
related components, espe cially the catalytic
converter.
The warning lamp comes on if the gas
cap is not properly tightened and the
OBD system assumes that fuel vapor
is escaping. If the gas ca p is then tightened, the
warning lamp should go out within a few days.
Data recorders
Your vehicle may be equipped with one or sev-
eral measuring or diagnostic modules or a
device for recording or sending certain vehicle
data or information. In addition, if you have
signed a service contract for BMW Assist, cer-
tain vehicle data may be transmitted or
recorded in order to fa cilitate the corresponding
services.
Care
204
Care
Care products
Regular cleaning and care contributes signifi-
cantly to the value retention of your BMW.
BMW recommends cleaning and caring for your
vehicle with products that are approved by
BMW for this purpose.
Your BMW center will be happy to advise you on
the products and services available for cleaning
and caring for your BMW.
Original BMW CareProducts have been
material tested, labo ratory checked and
proven in the field, and offer optimal care and
protection for your vehicle. <
Do not use cleaners that contain alcohol
or solvents as these may result in
damage. <
Cleaning agents can contain substances
that are dangerous or hazardous to your
health. Therefore, follow the warning and safety
instructions on the packaging. When cleaning
inside the vehicle, always open the doors or
windows of the vehicle. In enclosed areas, pro-
vide for sufficient ventilation. Only use products
designed for cleaning vehicles. <
Exterior care
Washing the vehicle
Especially during the winter months,
ensure that the vehicle is washed more
frequently. Heavy soiling and road salt can lead
to vehicle damage. <
After washing the vehicle, apply the
brakes briefly to dry them, otherwise
water can reduce braking efficiency over the
short term and brake discs can corrode. <
Automatic car washes
Preference should be given to cloth car washes.
Do not use high-pressure car washes,
otherwise water may drip into the vehicle
around the windows. <
Before driving into a car wash, ensure that it is
suitable for your BMW. Check the following:
> Dimensions of your vehicle, refer to
page 221.
> If necessary: fold in the exterior mirrors,
refer to page 45.
> Maximum permissible tire width.
Avoid car washes with guide rail heights
over 4 in/10 cm, otherwise there is danger
of damaging chassis parts. <
Preparations before driv ing into an automatic
car wash:
> Unscrew the rod antenna
*
>Deactivate the rain sensor* to avoid unin-
tentional activation of the wipers.
> Remove additional attachments, e.g.
spoiler or telephone an tennas, if there is a
possibility that they could be damaged.
Automatic transmission
Before driving into an automatic car wash, per-
form the following steps to ensure that the vehi-
cle can roll:
1. Insert the remote cont rol, even with conve-
nient access, into the ignition lock.
2. Move the selector lever to position N.
3. Release the parking brake.
4. Switch off the engine.
5. Leave the remote control in the ignition lock
so that the vehicle can roll.
Replacing components
208
Replacing components
Onboard tool kit
The onboard tool kit is located in the cargo bay
under the floor panel.
Wiper blades
1. Fold up the wiper arm.
2. Fold the wiper blade upwards.
3. Press the hook.
4. Pull the wiper blade do wnward out of the
holder and remove it to ward the top left, see
arrow.
To avoid damage, ma ke sure that the
wiper arms are resting against the wind-
shield before you open the engine compart-
ment. <
Lamps and bulbs
Lamps and bulbs make an essential contribu-
tion to vehicle safety. They should, therefore,
be handled carefully. BMW recommends hav- ing your BMW center perform any work that you
do not feel competent to
perform yourself or
that is not described here.
Never touch the glass of new bulbs with
your bare fingers, as even minute
amounts of contamination will burn into the
bulb's surface and reduce its service life. Use a
clean tissue, cloth or something similar, or hold
the bulb by its base. <
You can obtain a selection of replacement bulbs
at your BMW center.
Only change bulbs while they are cool to
the touch, otherwise you could suffer
burns. <
When working on electrical systems,
always begin by switching off the con-
sumer in question, otherwise short-circuits
could result. To avoid possible injury or equip-
ment damage when replacing bulbs, observe
any instructions provided by the bulb manufac-
turer.<
For care of the headlamps, please follow the
instructions in the chapter entitled 'Care'.
If the routine for changing a particular
bulb is not described here, please contact
your BMW center or a workshop that works
according to BMW repair procedures with cor-
respondingly trained personnel. <
Light-emitting diodes LED
Light-emitting diodes installed behind translu-
cent lenses serve as the light source for many of
the controls and displays in your vehicle. These
light-emitting diodes, which operate using a
concept similar to that applied in conventional
lasers, are officially desi gnated as Class 1 light-
emitting diodes.
Do not remove the covers or expose the
eyes directly to the unfiltered light source
for several hours, othe rwise this could cause
irritation to the retina. <
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Xenon lamps
Have any work on the xenon lamp system,
including bulb replacements, performed
only by a BMW center or a workshop that works
according to BMW repair procedures with cor-
respondingly trained pers onnel. Otherwise, if
such work is carried out improperly, the high
voltage in the system presents the danger of
fatal injuries. <
Parking lamps and roadside parking
lamps, daytime running lamps
H8 bulb, 35 watts
1.Switch off the lamps and take the remote
control out of the ignition lock.
2. Turn the upper access cover to the left and
remove it, see arrow.
3. Turn the bulb by approx. 90°, see arrow 1,
and pull it out, see arrow 2.
4. Disconnect the plug, change the bulb and
reconnect the plug.
5. Insert the bulb and turn it until it stops.
6. Screw on the access co ver tightly by turn-
ing it to the right.
Be careful when attaching the access
cover; otherwise it may leak, causing
damage to the headlamp system. <
Turn signals, front
P24W bulb, 24 watt
1.Turn the wheel outwards.
2. Turn both locks in the wheel house to the
left and remove the cover.
3. Turn the bulb holder to the left and
remove it.
4. Turn the bulb to the right, see arrow, and
remove it.
5. Change the bulb and screw it into the bulb
holder toward the left.
6. Insert the bulb holder and turn it to the right.
7. Reattach the cover.