2010 BMW M3 winter tires

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
133
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 page134.
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.<
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.

Wheels and tires
134 The manufacturing date of tires is contained in
the tire coding:
DOT ... 3209 means that the tire was manufac-
tured in week 32 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-sup-
porting tire and a special rim. The reinforce-
ment in the sidewalls ensures that the tire can
continue to be used subject to certain restric-
tions, even if depressurized.
For information on continuing to drive with a flat
tire, refer to Indication of a flat tire, page73.
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
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
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
FTM.
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 page73. Your BMW
center will be glad to advise you.

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
135
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 winter roads
or at temperatures below +45°F/+76.
Although all-season M+S tires provide better
winter traction than summer tires, they gener-
ally 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.<
If the car is capable of speeds higher than that
permitted for the winter tires, a label stating the
maximum permitted speed for the mounted
tires must be displayed in your field of view.
Specialist tire dealers and your BMW center
can supply these labels.
Storage
Always 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. If the tires are of mixed sizes,
swapping wheels between the axles is not per-
missible.
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.
Do not initialize the Flat Tire Monitor if
snow chains are mounted; otherwise, the
instrument might issue an incorrect reading.
When driving with snow chains, you may find it
helpful to activate DTC temporarily, refer to
page70.<

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
153
Changing wheels
Your BMW is equipped with run-flat tires as
standard. This removes the need to change a
wheel immediately in the event of a puncture.
For information on continuing to drive with a
damaged tire, refer to Indication of a flat tire on
page73.
The symbol identifying run-flat tires is a circle
with the letters RSC on the sidewall, refer to
Run-flat tires, page134.
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. Refer
also to New wheels and tires, page134.
The tools for changing wheels are avail-
able as optional accessories from your
BMW center.<
Jack mounting points
The jacking points are at the positions shown in
the illustration.
Vehicle battery
Battery care
The battery is 100 % maintenance-free, 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.
Replacing the battery
Only use vehicle batteries that have been
approved for your vehicle by the manu-
facturer; otherwise, the vehicle could be dam-
aged and systems or functions may not be fully
available.<
After a battery replacement, have the battery
registered on the vehicle by your service center
to ensure that all comfort functions are fully
available.
Charging the battery
Only charge the battery in the vehicle via the
terminals in the engine compartment with the
engine off. Connections, refer to Jump-starting
on page156.
Disposal
Have old batteries disposed of by your
BMW center or bring them to a recycling
center. Maintain the battery in an upright posi-
tion for transport and storage. Always secure
the battery against tipping over during trans-
port.<
Power failure
After a temporary power loss, the functioning of
some equipment may be limited and require
reinitialization. Individual settings may likewise
have been lost and will have to be programmed:
>Time and date
These values must be updated, refer to
page67.
>Radio
Stations must be stored again, refer to the
separate Owner's Manual for Radio.
>Glass roof
It may happen that the roof can only be
raised. The system must be initialized.
Please contact your BMW center.
>Panorama glass roof
It may happen that the roof can only be
raised. The system must be initialized.
Please contact your BMW center.

Everything from A to Z
180
Everything from A to Z
Index
A
ABS Antilock Brake
System70
ACC, refer to Active cruise
control55
Accident, refer to Sending an
Emergency Request155
Activated-charcoal filter for
automatic climate control90
Active cruise control55
– indicator lamps57
– malfunction58
– selecting distance56
– sensor58
Active steering76
Adaptive brake light
– Brake Force Display76
Adaptive light control81
Additives
– coolant139
Adjusting temperature inside
the car, refer to Air
conditioner85
Adjusting temperature inside
the car, refer to Automatic
climate control87
Adjusting the thigh support34
Airbags77
– indicator/warning lamp78
– sitting safely33
Air conditioner84
Air conditioning mode
– air conditioner85
– automatic climate control87
– ventilation86,89
Air distribution
– automatic88
– individual85
– manual85
Airing, refer to
Ventilation86,89Air outlets, refer to Air
vents84
Air pressure, refer to Tire
inflation pressure119
Air recirculation, refer to
Recirculated-air
mode85,88
Air supply
– air conditioner85
– automatic climate control87
– ventilation86,89
Air vents84
Air volume85,88
AKI, refer to Fuel
specifications115
Alarm system
25
– avoiding unintentional
alarms26
– interior motion sensor26
– switching off an alarm26
– tilt alarm sensor26
ALL program88
All-season tires, refer to
Winter tires135
All-wheel drive, refer to
xDrive71
Ambient air, refer to
Recirculated-air
mode85,88
Antifreeze
– coolant139
– washer fluid52
Antilock Brake System
ABS70
Anti-theft alarm system, refer
to Alarm system25
Anti-theft system19
Approved axle loads, refer to
Weights177
Approved gross vehicle
weight, refer to Weights177
Armrest, refer to Center
armrest95Ashtray96
Assistance systems, refer to
Driving stability control
systems70
AUC Automatic recirculated-
air control88
Audio device, external95
Automatic
– air distribution88
– air volume88
– cruise control53,55
– headlamp control79
Automatic car washes143
Automatic climate control84
– automatic air distribution88
Automatic curb monitor40
Automatic high beams and
low beams, refer to High-
beam assistant81
Automatic recirculated-air
control AUC88
Automatic transmission with
Steptronic48
– interlock48,49
– overriding selector lever
lock50
– shiftlock, refer to Changing
selector lever position49
– sport program49
– towing157
– tow-starting157
AUTO program for automatic
climate control88
AUX-IN
– port95
Average fuel consumption63
– setting the units64
Average speed63
Avoiding unintentional
alarms26
Axle loads, refer to
Weights177

Everything from A to Z
186 Jump-starting156
K
Key, refer to Integrated key/
remote control18
Keyless go, refer to Comfort
Access26
Keyless opening and closing,
refer to Comfort Access26
Key Memory, refer to Personal
Profile18
Kickdown49
– automatic transmission with
Steptronic49
Knock control115
L
Lamps
– automatic headlamp
control79
– parking lamps/low beams79
Lamps and bulbs, replacing
bulbs147
Lap-and-shoulder belt, refer
to Safety belts38
Lashing eyes, refer to
Securing cargo110
LATCH child restraint fixing
system43
Leather care145
LED Light-emitting
diodes148
Length, refer to
Dimensions175
License plate lamp, replacing
bulb152
Light
– high-beam assistant81
Light-alloy wheels144
Light-emitting diodes
LED148
Lighter96
– connecting electrical
appliances96Lighting
– instruments82
– lamps and bulbs147
– vehicle, refer to Lamps79
Light switch79
Load109
Load securing equipment,
refer to Securing cargo110
Lock buttons, doors, refer to
Locking23
Locking
– adjusting confirmation
signal20
– from inside23
– from outside20
– without remote control, refer
to Comfort Access26
Locking and unlocking doors
– confirmation signals20
– from inside22
– from outside19
Low beam control, refer to
High-beam assistant81
Low-beam headlamps79
– automatic79
– indicator lamp, defective
bulb169
– replacing bulbs149
Lower back support, refer to
Lumbar support35
Luggage rack, refer to Roof-
mounted luggage rack110
Lumbar support35
M
M+S tires, refer to Winter
tires135
Maintenance, refer to Service
Booklet
Maintenance system141
Malfunction
– automatic transmission with
Steptronic50
– tires73
– trunk lid24
Malfunction warnings, refer to
Check Control67
Manual air distribution85Manual car wash144
Manual mode, automatic
transmission with
Steptronic49
Manual operation
– door lock22
– driver's door22
– fuel filler flap114
– glass roof30
– panorama glass roof32
– transmission lock, automatic
transmission50
– trunk lid24
Manual transmission48
Master key, refer to Remote
control with integrated
key18
Maximum cooling87
Maximum speed
– with winter tires135
Measurements, refer to
Dimensions175
Memory, refer to Seat and
mirror memory37
Microfilter
– BMW Maintenance
System141
– for air conditioner86
– for automatic climate
control90
Microfilter/activated-charcoal
filter
– BMW Maintenance
System141
Microphone
– telephone14
Mirror dimming feature40
Mirrors39
– automatic curb monitor40
– exterior mirrors39
– heating40
– interior rearview mirror40
– memory, refer to Seat and
mirror memory37
Mirrors, folding in before
entering a car wash39

Everything from A to Z
188
R
Radio
– refer to separate Owner's
Manual
Radio position, refer to Radio
readiness46
Radio readiness46
– switched off47
– switched on46
Radio-remote key, refer to
Remote control with
integrated key18
Rain sensor52
Rapeseed-oil methyl ester
RME115
Reading lamps83
Rear lamps, refer to Tail
lamps150
Rear seat backrest, folding99
Rear seats
– adjusting head restraints36
– folding99
– folding down
backrests97,99
– folding head restraint down
and up36
Rear ventilation90
Rearview mirror, refer to
Mirrors39
Rear window
– cleaning52
– opening25
Rear window blind, refer to
Roller sun blinds94
Rear window defroster86,89
Rear window safety switch29
Rear window wiper52
– changing rear wiper
blade147
Recirculated-air mode85,88
Recirculation of air, refer to
Recirculated-air
mode85,88
Reclining seat, refer to
Backrest34
Refueling114
Releasing
– hood136Remaining distance, refer to
Cruising range63
Remote control18
– battery renewal28
– Comfort Access26
– garage door opener91
– malfunction21,27
– removing from the ignition
lock46
– service data141
– tailgate20
– trunk lid20
Replacement fuses, refer to
Fuses154
Replacement remote
control18
Replacing bulbs, refer to
Lamps and bulbs147
Replacing tires134
Replacing tires, refer to New
wheels and tires134
Reporting safety defects6
Reserve warning, refer to Fuel
gauge62
Restraint systems
– for children42
– refer to Safety belts38
Reverse gear
– automatic transmission with
Steptronic49
– manual transmission48
RME, refer to Rapeseed-oil
methyl ester115
Roadside Assistance155
Roadside parking lamps81
– replacing bulbs148,150
Roadworthiness test, refer to
Service requirements65
Roller blind
– sun blinds94
Roof load capacity177
Roof-mounted luggage
rack110
Rope, refer to Tow-starting,
towing away158
RSC Runflat System
Component, refer to Run-
flat tires134Runflat System Component
RSC, refer to Run-flat
tires134
Run-flat tires134
– continuing driving with a
damaged tire73
– flat tire73
– Flat Tire Monitor73
– new tires134
– replacing134
– tire inflation pressure119
– winter tires135
S
Safety-belt height
adjustment38
Safety belts38
– damage39
– indicator/warning lamp39
– reminder39
– sitting safely33
Safety systems
– airbags77
– Antilock Brake System
ABS70
– brake system70
– driving stability control
systems70
– Dynamic Stability Control
DSC70
– safety belts38
Safety tires, refer to Run-flat
tires134
Saving fuel106
Screw thread for tow
fitting158
Seat adjustment
– electric34
– mechanical34
Seat and mirror memory37
Seat belt reminder, refer to
"Fasten safety belts"
reminder39
Seat heating37

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
189
Seats34
– adjusting electrically34
– adjusting the seats34
– heating37
– memory, refer to Seat and
mirror memory37
– saving a setting, refer to Seat
and mirror memory37
– sitting safely33
Securing cargo101
Securing the vehicle
– from inside22
– from outside19
Selecting distance for active
cruise control56
Selector lever
– automatic transmission with
Steptronic49
Selector lever lock, refer to
Changing selector lever
positions, shiftlock49
Selector lever positions
– automatic transmission with
Steptronic49
Service, refer to Roadside
Assistance155
Service car, refer to Roadside
Assistance155
Service data in the remote
control141
Service Interval Display, refer
to Condition Based Service
CBS141
Service requirement display,
refer to Condition Based
Service CBS141
Service requirements65
Settings
– clock, 12h/24h format64
Settings and information64
Shifting gears
– automatic transmission with
Steptronic49
– manual transmission48
Shiftlock
– automatic transmission,
refer to Changing selector
lever positions49
Side airbags77Side window blind, refer to
Roller sun blinds94
Side windows, refer to
Windows28
Signal horn, refer to
Horn10,11
Sitting safely33
– with airbags33
– with head restraint33
– with safety belts33
Ski bag101
Sliding/tilt sunroof
– refer to Panorama glass
roof30
Sliding/tilt sunroof, refer to
Glass roof, electric29
Slot for remote control46
Smokers' package, refer to
Ashtray96
Snap-in adapter, refer to
Center armrest storage
compartment95
Socket, Onboard Diagnosis
OBD142
Socket, refer to Connecting
electrical appliances96
Soot particulate filter, refer to
Diesel particulate filter107
SOS, refer to Sending an
Emergency Request155
Spare fuses154
Speed
– run-flat tires73
– with winter tires135
Speedometer12
Split rear seat backrest, refer
to Expanding the cargo
area99
Spray nozzles, refer to
Cleaning windshield and
headlamps52
Stability control, refer to
Driving stability control
systems70
Start/stop button46
– starting the engine47
– switching off the engine47
Starting, refer to Starting the
engine47Starting assistance, refer to
Jump-starting156
Starting difficulties
– jump-starting156
Starting the engine
– start/stop button46
Status of this Owner's Manual
at time of printing5
Steam jet143,144
Steering wheel40
– adjustment40
– buttons on steering
wheel11
– heating41
– lock46
– locking with Comfort
Access27
Steering with variable ratio,
refer to Active steering76
Steptronic, refer to Automatic
transmission with
Steptronic48
Storage146
Storage compartments95
Storage nets100
Storing seat positions, refer to
Seat and mirror memory37
Storing tires135
Stowage, refer to Storage
compartments95
Summer tires, refer to Wheels
and tires119
Sun blinds94
Surface ice, refer to Outside
temperature warning61
Switches, refer to Cockpit10
Switching off
– engine47
Switching off the engine
– start/stop button46
Switching the cooling function
on and off89
Symbols4
T
Tachometer61