2011 BMW 323I tires

Wheels and tires
222 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 page223.
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 0.12 in/
3mm, although, for example, European legisla-
tion only specifies a minimum tread depth of
0.063 in/1.6 mm. At tread depths below 0.12 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 0.16 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 0.063 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.
O t h e r w i s e , t i r e d a m a g e c a n p o s e a l e t h a l h a z a r d
to vehicle occupants and other road users.<

Mobility
223Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
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 ... 1010 means that the tire was manufac-
tured in week 10 of 2010.
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, page89.
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
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 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 page89. Your
BMW center will be glad to advise you.

Wheels and tires
224
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 driving on
winter roads 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 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
page86.<

Replacing components
244
Changing wheels
Your BMW is equipped with run-flat tires as
standard. This eliminates 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
page89.
The symbol identifying run-flat tires is a circle
with the letters RSC on the sidewall, refer to
Run-flat tires, page223.
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, page223.
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.
Battery replacing
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 page247.
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.<

Everything from A to Z
266
Everything from A to Z
Index
A
ABS Antilock Brake
System85
ACC, refer to Active cruise
control64
Accident, refer to Sending an
Emergency Request246
Activated-charcoal filter for
automatic climate
control105
Active Cruise Control
– indicator lamp67
– malfunction68
– selecting distance66
– sensor68
Active cruise control64
Active steering92
Adaptive brake light
– Brake Force Display93
Adaptive light control98
Additives
– coolant230
Address, entering131,137
Address for navigation
– entering131
Adjusting temperature inside
the car, refer to Automatic
climate control103
Adjusting the thigh support43
Airbags94
– indicator/warning lamp96
– sitting safely42
Air conditioning mode
– automatic climate
control103
– ventilation105
Air distribution
– automatic103
Airing, refer to Ventilation105
Air pressure, refer to Tire
inflation pressure208Air recirculation, refer to
Recirculated-air mode104
Air supply
– automatic climate
control103
– ventilation105
Air vents102
Air volume104
AKI, refer to Fuel
specifications203
Alarm system33
– avoiding unintentional
alarms34
– interior motion sensor34
– switching off an alarm34
– tilt alarm sensor34
Albums of music
collection170
ALL program104
All-season tires, refer to
Winter tires224
All-wheel drive, refer to
xDrive86
AM, waveband153
Ambient air, refer to
Recirculated-air mode104
Antenna for mobile phone180
Antifreeze
– coolant230
– washer fluid62
Antilock Brake System
ABS85
Anti-theft alarm system, refer
to Alarm system33
Anti-theft system27
Approved axle loads, refer to
Weights257
Approved gross vehicle
weight, refer to Weights257
Armrest, refer to Center
armrest111
Arrival time, refer to
Computer74Ashtray112
Assist systems, refer to
Driving stability control85
AUC Automatic recirculated-
air control104
Audible instructions, refer to
Spoken instructions142
Audio150
– controls150
– switching on/off150
– tone control150
– volume150
Audio device, external111
Automatic
– air distribution103
– air volume103
– cruise control62,64
– headlamp control97
Automatic car washes233
Automatic climate control102
Automatic curb monitor49
Automatic high beams and
low beams, refer to High-
beam assistant99
Automatic recirculated-air
control AUC104
Automatic Service
Request199
Automatic transmission with
Steptronic57
– interlock58
– overriding selector lever
lock60
– shiftlock, refer to Changing
selector lever position58
– sport program59
– towing248
– tow-starting248
AUTO program for automatic
climate control103
AUX-IN
– port111
AUX-IN port173

Reference 269
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Computer73
– displays on Control
Display74
Computer, refer to iDrive16
Concierge service196
Condensation, refer to When
the vehicle is parked125
Condition Based Service
CBS231
Configuring settings, refer to
Personal Profile26
Confirmation signals for
locking/unlocking the
vehicle28
Congestion
– refer to Route, bypassing
sections141
Connecting vacuum cleaner,
refer to Connecting
electrical appliances113
Consumption, refer to
Average fuel
consumption73
Consumption display
– Energy Control72
Contacts
– creating193
Control Center, refer to
iDrive16
Control Display, refer to
iDrive16
– adjusting brightness83
– switching on/off19
Controller, refer to iDrive16
Controls and displays10
Control unit, refer to iDrive16
Convenient operation
– glass roof28
– windows28
Coolant230
– checking level230
Coolant temperature72
Cooling, maximum103
Cooling fluid, refer to
Coolant230
Cooling system, refer to
Coolant230
Copyright2Corner-illuminating lamps
– replacing bulbs239
Corner-illuminating lamps,
refer to Adaptive light
control98
Cornering lamps, refer to
Adaptive light control98
Correct tires223
Country codes DVD163
Courtesy lamps, refer to
Interior lamps101
Criteria for route140
Cross-hairs in navigation136
Cruise control62
– active64
– malfunction64
Cruise control, refer to Active
cruise control64
Cruising range73
Cupholders112
Curb weight, refer to
Weights257
Current fuel consumption,
refer to Energy Control72
Current playback
– external devices176
– of music collection170
Customer Relations198
D
Dashboard, refer to
Cockpit10
Dashboard, refer to
instrument cluster12
Dashboard lighting, refer to
Instrument lighting101
Data, technical254
– capacities258
– dimensions255
– engine254
– weights257
Data memory232
Data transfer199
Date
– date format80
– setting80
Daytime running lights98
– replacing bulbs238DBC Dynamic Brake
Control85
Deactivating front passenger
airbags95
Deadlocking, refer to
Locking28
Defect
– door lock30
– fuel filler flap202
– glass roof38
– panorama glass roof40
Destination, entering by town/
city name131
Destination address
– entering131,137
Destination entry via BMW
Assist136
Destination for navigation
– entering by voice137
– entering via map136
– entry131
– home address134
– manual entry131
Destination guidance140
– bypassing a route
section141
– changing specified
route140
– continuing140
– starting140
– voice instructions142
– volume of voice
instructions142
Diesel exhaust fluid205
Diesel fuel204
Diesel particulate filter124
Digital clock71
Digital compass109
Digital radio, refer to HD
Radio154
Dimensions255
Dipstick, engine oil227
Directional indicators, refer to
Turn signals60
Direction instructions, refer to
Voice instructions142
Directory for navigation, refer
to Address book133

Reference 271
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Entering special destinations
by name136
Entering the postal code for
navigation132
Entry lamps, refer to Interior
lamps101
Entry map for destination136
Environmentally friendly
driving, refer to Energy
Control72
Equalizer, tone setting151
Error messages, refer to
Check Control80
ESP Electronic Stability
Program, refer to Dynamic
Stability Control DSC85
Exhaust system, refer to Hot
exhaust system123
Expanding the cargo area115
Extended connectivity of the
music player in the mobile
phone174
Exterior mirrors48
– adjusting48
– automatic dimming
feature49
– automatic heating48
– folding in and out48
External audio device111
External devices
– random sequence176
Eyes
– for tow-starting and towing
away249
– for tying down loads126
F
Failure messages, refer to
Check Control80
Failure of an electrical
consumer245
False alarm
– avoiding unintentional
alarm34
– switching off an alarm34
Fastening safety belts, refer to
Safety belts47Fastest route for
navigation140
Fast forward
– CD changer163
– CD player163
Filter
– refer to Microfilter/activated-
charcoal filter for automatic
climate control105
First aid pouch247
Fixture for remote control,
refer to Ignition lock55
Flash when locking/
unlocking28
Flat tire
– run-flat tires223
– Tire Pressure Monitor
TPM89
Flat Tire Monitor FTM88
– indicating a flat tire89
– indicator/warning lamp89
– initializing the system88
– snow chains88,224
– system limits88
Flat tires, refer to Tire
condition222
Fluid reservoir, refer to
Washer fluid reservoir62
FM, waveband153
Fog lamps100
– indicator lamp13,100
Folding rear seat backrest115
Folding up the floor panel117
Footbrake, refer to Braking
safely124
Footwell lamps, refer to
Interior lamps101
For your own safety5
Four-wheel drive, refer to
xDrive86
Free memory capacity, music
collection171
Front airbags94
FTM, refer to Flat Tire
Monitor88Fuel203
– additives204
– average consumption73
– gauge72
– high-quality brands
203
– quality203
– specifications203
– tank contents, refer to
Capacities258
Fuel clock, refer to Fuel
gauge72
Fuel consumption indicator
– average fuel
consumption73
Fuel display, refer to Fuel
gauge72
Fuel-efficient driving, refer to
Energy Control72
Fuel filler flap202
– releasing in the event of
electrical malfunction202
Fuses245
G
Garage door opener, refer to
Integrated universal remote
control107
Gasoline
– refer to Average
consumption73
Gasoline, refer to Required
fuel203
Gasoline display, refer to Fuel
gauge72
Gas station
recommendations142
Gear indicator, automatic
transmission with
Steptronic58
Gearshift lever
– automatic transmission with
Steptronic58
– manual transmission57
Gearshifts
– automatic transmission with
Steptronic58
– manual transmission57
General driving notes123

Everything from A to Z
272 Glass roof, electric37
– closing after electrical
malfunction38
– convenient operation28,29
– initializing38
– opening, closing38
– pinch protection system38
– power failure38
– raising37
– remote control28
Glove compartment110
GPS navigation, refer to
Navigation system130
Grills102
Gross vehicle weight, refer to
Weights257
H
Halogen lamps
– replacing bulbs239
Handbrake, refer to Parking
brake57
Hands-free system14
Hazard warning flashers14
HDC Hill Descent Control87
HD Radio154
Head airbags94
Headlamp control,
automatic97
Headlamp cover239
Headlamp flasher60
– indicator lamp11,13
Headlamps
– replacing bulbs239
Head restraints44
– rear, removing45
– sitting safely42
Heated
– mirrors48
– rear window104
– seats46
– steering wheel50
Heating
– mirrors48
– rear window104
– seats46
– steering wheel50Heating and ventilation, refer
to Climate102
Heavy loads, refer to Stowing
cargo126
Height, refer to
Dimensions255
Height adjustment
– seats43
– steering wheel50
High-beam assistant99
High beams99
– headlamp flasher99
– indicator lamp13
– replacing bulbs239
High beams and low beams,
automatic, refer to High-
beam assistant99
High-pressure
washer233,234
High water, refer to Driving
through water124
Highways, refer to Route
criteria140
Hill Descent Control HDC87
Hills124
Holders for cups112
Homepage BMW4
Hood225
Hooks for shopping
bags116,117
Horn10,11
Hotel function, refer to
Locking or unlocking
separately32
Hot exhaust system123
Hydraulic brake assist, refer to
Dynamic Brake Control85
Hydroplaning124
I
IBOC, refer to HD Radio154
Ice warning, refer to Outside
temperature warning71
Identification marks
– run-flat tires223
– tire coding221iDrive16
– adjusting brightness83
– changing date and time79
– changing language83
– changing settings83
– changing units of measure
and display format76
– controls16
– menu guidance17
– operating principle16
– overview16
– start menu17
– status information19
iDrive operating principle16
Ignition55
– switched off56
– switched on55
Ignition key, refer to Remote
control with integrated
key26
Ignition key position 1, refer to
Radio readiness55
Ignition key position 2, refer to
Ignition on55
Ignition lock55
Imprint2
Indicator and warning
lamps13
– Tire Pressure Monitor
TPM91
Inflation pressure, refer to Tire
inflation pressure208
Inflation pressure monitoring,
refer to Tire Pressure
Monitor TPM89
Initializing
– after power failure245
– compass, refer to
Calibrating110
– Flat Tire Monitor FTM88
– glass roof38
– panorama glass roof40
– radio, refer to Station,
storing154
– refer to Setting the time and
date79
Installation location
– telephone111