Wheels and tires
96
X3 xDrive28i
X3 xDrive30i
Tire sizePressure specifications in psi/kPa
Traveling speeds
of up to max.
100 mph/160 km/hTraveling speeds
including those above
100 mph/160 km/h
All pressure specifications in
the table are indicated in psi/
kilopascal with cold tires.
Cold = ambient temperature
235/55 R 17 99 H M+S 32/220 33/230 32/220 32/220 32/220 38/260
235/50 R 18 97 H M+S 32/220 35/240 32/220 35/240 35/240 41/280
Front: 235/50 R 18 97 V
Rear: 255/45 R 18 99 V32/220
––
33/23032/220
––
35/24035/240
––
42/290
Front: 235/45 R 19 95 W
Rear: 255/40 R 19 96 W32/220
––
38/26032/220
––
36/25038/260
––
45/310
Compact wheel:
T 135/90 R 17 104 M60/420 60/420 60/420 60/420 60/420 60/420
More details on the permissible load and weights can be found on page128
Tire sizePressure specifications in psi/kPa
Traveling speeds
of up to max.
100 mph/160 km/hTraveling speeds
including those above
100 mph/160 km/h
All pressure specifications in
the table are indicated in psi/
kilopascal with cold tires.
Cold = ambient temperature
235/55 R 17 99 H M+S 32/220 33/230 32/220 32/220 32/220 38/260
235/50 R 18 97 H M+S 32/220 35/240 32/220 35/240 35/240 41/280
Front: 235/45 R 19 95 W
Rear: 255/40 R 19 96 W32/220
––
38/26032/220
––
36/25038/260
––
45/310
Compact wheel:
T 135/90 R 17 104 M60/420 60/420 60/420 60/420 60/420 60/420
More details on the permissible load and weights can be found on page128
Wheels and tires
98
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 that 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.
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 fall below 0.12 in/
3 mm. At tread depths below 0.12 in/3 mm,
there is an increased risk of high-speed hydro-
planing, 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 worn down to the wear indicators, then the
legally permissible tread depth limit 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 hazard 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. 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 checked
immediately. Drive carefully to the nearest
BMW Sports Activity Vehicle Center or tire spe-
cialist. Have the vehicle towed to one of these
locations if necessary.
Tire damage can pose a potentially lethal safety
hazard for the vehicle's occupants and other
road users alike.<
New wheels and tires
Have new wheels and tires installed only
by your BMW Sports Activity Vehicle
Center or a tire shop that works according to
BMW repair procedures with correspondingly
trained personnel. If this work is not carried out
properly, there is a danger of subsequent dam-
Reference
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Driving tips
Mobility
99
age and related safety hazards. Make sure that
the new wheels are balanced.<
Retreaded tires
BMW does not recommend the use of
retreaded tires; otherwise, driving safety
may be reduced. The causes for this include the
possibly different tire casing structures and the
often wide variations in their 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 than the
approved units – these differences could lead to
body contact and with it, the risk of severe acci-
dents. If non-approved wheels and tires are
used, BMW cannot evaluate their suitability,
and therefore cannot be held liable for driving
safety.<
You can ask your BMW Sports Activity Vehicle
Center for the correct wheel-and-tire combina-
tion.
The correct wheel-and-tire combination affects
various systems whose function would other-
wise be impaired, e.g. ABS, DSC or xDrive.
To maintain good handling and vehicle
response, use only tires of a single tread config-
uration from a single manufacturer. After tire
damage, always remember to have the original
wheel and tire combination remounted on the
vehicle as soon as possible.
Wheels equipped with electronics for
TPM Tire Pressure Monitor
When installing new tires or when changing
from summer tires to winter tires or vice versa,
only use wheels equipped with TPM electron-
ics; otherwise, the Tire Pressure Monitor can-
not detect a flat tire, refer to page55. Your
BMW Sports Activity Vehicle Center will be
happy to advise you in this regard.
Recommended tire 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.
Special characteristics of winter tires
BMW recommends winter tires for use on win-
ter road surfaces or at temperatures below
+457/+76. Although all-season M+S tires do
provide better winter traction than summer
tires, they generally fail to provide the same lev-
els of cold-weather performance as winter tires.
Observing speed ratings
Never exceed the maximum speed for
which the winter tires are rated.<
Storage
Store wheels or tires in a cool, dry place, pro-
tecting them from light whenever possible. Pro-
tect the tires from contact with oil, grease and
fuel. Do not exceed the maximum tire inflation
pressure indicated on the side wall of the tire.
Changing wheels from one axle to
another
BMW does not recommend changing the front
wheels to the back or vice versa as this can
impair handling characteristics.
Wheels and tires
100
Snow chains*
Only certain fine-link snow chains are tested,
classified as road-safe, and recommended by
BMW. You can obtain a list of these from your
BMW Sports Activity Vehicle Center. It is only
permissible to use them in pairs and on the rear
wheels.
Follow the manufacturer's instructions when
installing snow chains.
Do not exceed a vehicle speed of 30 mph/
50 km/h with snow chains mounted.
Do not initialize the Flat Tire Monitor
*
with snow chains installed; otherwise, the
instrument might issue an incorrect reading.
When you are driving with snow chains, it can
be beneficial to temporarily activate DTC, refer
to page52.<
Reference
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Mobility
109
Before cleaning the windshield, deacti-
vate the rain sensor or switch off the igni-
tion in order to prevent undesired wiper activa-
tion.<
Obey local regulations for washing vehi-
cles by hand.<
Headlamps
Do not rub dry and never use abrasives or
strong solvents to clean the covers.
Use shampoo or insect remover to soften
insects and then rinse with ample water.
Remove accumulated ice and snow with win-
dow deicer, not a scraper.
Windows
Use glass cleaner to clean outer and inner sur-
faces of windows and mirror glass.
Do not clean mirror glass with cleansers
that contain powdered quartz.<
Wiper blades
Clean with soapy water and replace regularly to
prevent streaking.
Wax residues and dirt on the windshield
cause streaking during wiper operation
and lead to premature wear on wiper blades and
can cause the rain sensor to malfunction.<
Caring for vehicle finish
Regular care and maintenance helps your vehi-
cle retain its value and protects its finish against
the long-term effects of finish-damaging sub-
stances.
Environmental factors that occur locally or
regionally can have a negative impact on the
finish of your vehicle and may damage it. It is
therefore important to adjust the frequency and
extent of vehicle care accordingly.
Immediately remove particularly corrosive sub-
stances such as spilled fuel, oil, grease, brake
fluid, tree sap, or bird droppings; otherwise,
they can damage the finish.
Repairing damages to finish
Depending on the severity of the damage,
have stone damage or scratches touched
up immediately in order to prevent rust from
forming.<
BMW recommends having paint damage pro-
fessionally repaired in accordance with factory
guidelines using Genuine BMW finish materials.
Waxing
It is time to wax the vehicle when water no
longer beads on the clean surface of the paint.
Use only products that contain carnauba wax or
synthetic waxes to protect the finish.
Rubber seals
Only treat with water or rubber cleaner.
To avoid noise or damage, do not use
care products that contain silicone when
caring for rubber seals.<
Chrome parts
Carefully clean parts such as the radiator grille,
door handles, or window frames with ample
water and added shampoo, particularly when
they have been exposed to road salts. Use
chrome polish for additional treatment.
Light-alloy wheels
By design, the system produces dust during
braking, which settles on the light-alloy wheels.
Remove it frequently with an acid-free wheel
cleaner.
Do not use corrosive, acid-containing,
strongly alkaline, or coarse cleansers
or steam cleaners hotter than 1407/606;
otherwise, you can damage your vehicle.<
Aluminum running boards
Superficial rust on the aluminum running
boards can be removed with a special cleanser.
Outside sensors
Keep sensors outside the vehicle, e.g.
Park Distance Control, clean and free of
ice in order to maintain full functionality.<
Reference
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Mobility
115
Brake lamp:
1.Remove bulb holder, refer to arrow 2.
2.Remove and replace the bulb.
License plate lamps
C5W bulb, 5 watts
1.Press the lamp out to the side with a screw-
driver.
2.Remove the lamp and replace the bulb.
Liftgate lamp
10 watt bulb
1.Take out the bulb holder.
2.Replace the bulb.
Center brake lamp
This lamp is designed with LED technology.
In the event of a malfunction, please consult a
BMW Sports Activity Vehicle Center or a garage
that works in accordance with BMW guidelines
with appropriately trained personnel.
Wheel changes
Safety precautions to observe in the
event of a flat tire and during all tire
changes:
Park the vehicle as far as possible from passing
traffic. Park on a firm, flat, surface. Switch on the
hazard warning flashers.
Lock the steering wheel with the wheels point-
ing straight ahead. Engage the handbrake and
shift into first gear or reverse, or move the
selector lever to position P.
All passengers should be outside the vehicle
and well away from your immediate working
area, behind a guardrail, for instance.
If a warning triangle
* or portable hazard warning
lamp
* is required, set it up on the roadside at an
appropriate distance from the rear of the vehi-
cle. Comply with all safety guidelines and regu-
lations.
Change the wheel only on a level, firm surface
which is not slippery. The vehicle or the jack
could slip to the side if you attempt to raise the
vehicle on a soft or slippery surface such as
snow, ice, tile, etc.
Position the jack on a firm support surface.
Do not use a wooden block or similar object as a
support base for the jack, as this would prevent
it from extending to its full support height and
reduce its load-carrying capacity.
To avoid serious or fatal injury: never lie under
the vehicle, and never start the engine while it is
supported by the jack.<
Replacing components
116
What you will need
Open liftgate and raise or remove floor cover,
refer to page78.
1Vehicle jack
2Lug wrench
3Wheel chock
In order to avoid rattling noises later, note the
position of the tools when you remove them and
return them to their original position when you
are through using them.
Compact wheel
The compact wheel is located under the cargo
area on the undercarriage of the vehicle.
Removing compact wheel
1.Unscrew bolt, refer to arrow1.
2.Fold up lifting handle, refer to arrow2.
3.Turn the handle to the left as far as possible,
refer to arrow3.
Turning the handle releases the com-
pact wheel. Its weight of approx.
18 lbs./8 kg is then entirely supported by
the handle.<4.Slowly lower the handle as far as possible,
refer to arrow4.
5.Pull the compact wheel to the rear so that it
is still securely resting in its compact wheel
receptacle.
6.If need be, turn the wheel in the compact
wheel receptacle so that the attachment of
the retaining strap to the rim points toward
the rear.
7.Rotate the clamp by 180°, refer to arrows 1,
and unhook the retaining strap from the
clamp, refer to arrow 2.
8.Take out the compact wheel toward the
back.
9.Fasten the retaining strap to the compact
wheel receptacle and resecure the compact
wheel receptacle by reversing the above
steps.
The width of the defective wheel prevents
it from fitting into the compact wheel
receptacle in place of the compact wheel
itself.<
Reference
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Driving tips
Mobility
117
Inserting compact wheel
The compact wheel is reinserted in the reverse
sequence of its removal.
When attaching the retaining strap to the
compact wheel, make sure the belt is
threaded through 2 rim openings, with one
unoccupied hole between them; otherwise, the
compact wheel could come loose in an acci-
dent.<
Preparing wheel change
1.Observe the safety precautions on
page116.
2.Secure the vehicle to prevent it from rolling:
Place the wheel chock behind the front
wheel on the side of the vehicle opposite
the side being raised. If the vehicle is parked
on a downward slope, place the wheel
chock securely in front of this wheel. If the
road surface is steeply inclined, take addi-
tional preventive steps to stop the vehicle
from rolling.
3.Loosen the wheel lugs by a half turn.
Jacking up vehicle
1.Position the vehicle jack at the jacking point
closest to the wheel so that the entire sur-
face of the jack base perpendicularly con-
tacts the ground under the jacking point.
The vehicle jack is designed for
changing wheels only. Do not attempt
to raise another vehicle model with it or to
raise any load of any kind. To do so could
cause accidents and personal injury.<2.Guide the jack head into the rectangular
recess of the jacking point when cranking
up, refer to drawing inset.
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 compact wheel.
Secure the wheel by screwing at least two
lug bolts into opposite bolt holes. When you
mount wheels other than Genuine 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 jack and remove it 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
101 lb ft/140 Nm.<
2.Stow the defective wheel in the cargo area.
3.Check and correct the tire inflation pressure
at the earliest opportunity.