
BMW Assist
198
BMW Assist
BMW Assist*
BMW Assist provides a number of different ser-
vices. For example, the position data of the 
vehicle can be transmitted to the BMW Assist 
Response Center when an Emergency 
Request
* is sent.
Many BMW Assist services depend on the con-
tract individually agreed upon.
After your contract has expired, the BMW 
Assist system will be deactivated by the BMW 
Assist Response Center without you having to 
visit a BMW center. After the BMW Assist sys-
tem has been deactivated, no BMW Assist ser-
vices will be available. The BMW Assist system 
can be reactivated by a BMW center after a new 
contract has been signed.
Requirements
>The installed BMW Assist system is logged 
in to a wireless communications network. 
This network must be capable of transmit-
ting the services.
>To transmit position data, the vehicle must 
be able to determine its current position.
>To activate and update BMW Assist, a GPS 
signal must be available.
>The BMW Assist service contract was 
signed with your BMW center or with the 
BMW Assist Response Center. The service 
must have been fully enabled.
>BMW Assist is activated.
Services offered
>Emergency Request: when you press the 
SOS button, a connection to the BMW 
Assist Response Center is established. The 
BMW Assist Response Center then speaks 
with you and takes further steps to help you.
>Automatic Collision Notification: under cer-
tain conditions, a connection to the BMW 
Assist Response Center is established after 
a serious accident. If possible, the BMW 
Assist Response Center then speaks with 
you and takes further steps to help you.
>Enhanced Roadside Assistance: BMW 
Roadside Assistance
* can be contacted if 
assistance is needed in the event of a 
breakdown. If possible, the vehicle data and 
position data are transmitted during this 
call.
>Customer Relations: connection to Cus-
tomer Relations for information on all 
aspects of your vehicle.
>TeleService: data on your vehicle's service 
status or required inspections are transmit-
ted to your BMW center, either automati-
cally before a service due date or when you 
request a BMW service appointment.
>Remote Door Unlock: the BMW Assist 
Response Center provides assistance if, for 
example, the remote control is not available 
and the vehicle needs to be opened.
>Stolen Vehicle Recovery: after you report to 
the police that your vehicle was stolen, the 
BMW Assist Response Center can deter-
mine its position.
>In addition, the optional Convenience Plan 
offers a concierge service and information 
on route planning, the traffic situation and 
weather. Using Critical Calling, a limited 
number of calls can be made via the BMW 
Assist Response Center, for example if the 
mobile phone is not available or discharged. 
Press the SOS button to contact the 
BMW Assist Response Center.
* 

 199
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TeleService*
TeleService supports communication with your 
BMW center.
>Data on the vehicle's service requirements 
can be sent directly to the BMW center. In 
this way, the BMW center can plan its work 
in advance. This shortens the duration of 
the service appointment.
>In the event of a breakdown, data on the 
vehicle's condition can be sent directly to 
Roadside Assistance
*. 
>The service varies by country.
>Connection may incur charges.
>Services may be restricted abroad.
Requirements
>BMW Assist is activated.
>Wireless reception is available.
>The engine is running.
Concierge service*
When you call the BMW Assist Concierge ser-
vice, you can obtain information about, for 
example, restaurants, emergency pharmacy 
services, gas stations or hotels, as well as 
receive the corresponding telephone numbers 
and addresses.
You can then dial a phone number directly or 
use an address for destination guidance
*.
Starting the concierge service
1."BMW Assist"
2."Concierge"3."Start service"
A voice connection is established to the BMW 
Concierge service.
You are connected to an employee of the BMW 
Concierge service to obtain the required infor-
mation. You can then have the phone number 
and address sent to you and, for example, use it 
for destination guidance in the navigation sys-
tem. Many hotels can be booked directly 
through the BMW Assist Concierge service. 
When an information message is received, a list 
of the received messages is displayed automat-
ically. Open the message via the message list, 
refer to page191.
Roadside Assistance
You can call BMW Roadside Assistance* 
should you require help in the event of a break-
down.
Starting Roadside Assistance
Vehicle not equipped with BMW Assist 
or BMW TeleService
1."BMW Assist"
2."Roadside Assistance"
The BMW Roadside Assistance number is 
displayed. If a mobile phone
* is paired, a 
connection is established to BMW Road-
side Assistance. 

Mobility
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Observe the following when refueling
When handling fuels, follow the safety 
instructions provided at filling stations; 
otherwise, there is a risk of personal injury or 
property damage.<
When refueling, insert the filler nozzle com-
pletely into the filler pipe. Avoid lifting the filler 
nozzle while filling the tank, as that would lead 
to
>Premature pump shutoff
>Reduced efficiency of the fuel-vapor recov-
ery system.
The fuel tank is full when the filler nozzle clicks 
off the first time.
Fuel tank capacity
Approx. 16.1 US gallons/61 liters, including the 
reserve capacity of 2.1 US gallons/8 liters.
Refuel as soon as possible once your 
cruising range falls below 30 miles/
50 km; otherwise, engine functions are not 
ensured and damage can occur.<
Fuel specifications
Gasoline engine: required fuel
Do not refuel with leaded fuel; otherwise, 
the catalytic converter will be damaged.
Do not fill the tank with E85, i.e. fuel containing 
85Ξ ethanol, nor with FlexFuel. Otherwise, the 
engine and fuel supply system will be dam-
aged.<
Super Premium Gasoline/AKI 91
This gasoline is highly recommended.
However, you may also use gasoline with less 
AKI. The minimum AKI Rating is:
>328i/xDrive: 87
>335i, 335i/xDrive: 89.
If you use gasoline with this minimum AKI Rat-
ing, the engine may produce knocking sounds 
when starting at high outside temperatures. 
This has no effect on the engine life.Do not use any gasoline below the speci-
fied minimum fuel grade. Otherwise, the 
engine could be damaged.<
Use high-quality brands
Field experience has indicated significant dif-
ferences in fuel quality: volatility, composition, 
additives, etc., among gasolines offered for sale 
in the United States and Canada. Fuels contain-
ing up to and including 10Ξ ethanol or other 
oxygenates with up to 2.8Ξ oxygen by weight, 
that is, 15Ξ MTBE or 3Ξ methanol plus an 
equivalent amount of cosolvent, will not void the 
applicable warranties with respect to defects in 
materials or workmanship.
The use of poor-quality fuels may result in 
drivability, starting and stalling problems 
especially under certain environmental condi-
tions such as high ambient temperature and 
high altitude. 
Should you encounter drivability problems 
which you suspect could be related to the fuel 
y o u  a r e  u s i n g ,  w e  r e c o m m e n d  t h a t  y o u  r e s p o n d  
by switching to a recognized high-quality brand 
such as gasoline that is advertised as Top Tier 
Detergent Gasoline. 
Failure to comply with these recommendations 
may also result in unscheduled maintenance.< 

Wheels and tires
208
Wheels and tires
Tire inflation pressures
Information for your safety
It is not merely the tires' service life, but also 
driving comfort and, to a great extent, driving 
safety that depend on the condition of the tires 
and the maintenance of the specified tire pres-
sure.
Check the tire inflation pressure regularly 
and correct it, if necessary: at least twice a 
month and before starting long trips. If you fail 
to observe this precaution you may be driving 
on tires with incorrect tire pressures, a condi-
tion that can not only compromise your vehi-
cle's driving stability, but also lead to tire dam-
age and the risk of an accident. Do not drive 
with deflated, i.e. flat tires, except when using 
run-flat tires. A flat tire will seriously impair your 
vehicle's handling and braking response. 
Attempts to drive on a flat tire can lead to loss of 
control over the vehicle.<
Checking pressure
Only check tire inflation pressure when the 
tires are cold. This means after a maximum of 
1.25 miles/2 km driving or when the vehicle has 
been parked for at least 2 hours. When tires are 
warm, the tire inflation pressure is higher.
After correcting the tire inflation pressure, 
reset the Tire Pressure Monitor, refer to 
page95, or reinitialize the Flat Tire Monitor, 
refer to page93.<
Inflation pressure specifications
The tables below provide all the correct inflation 
pressures for the specified tire sizes at ambient 
temperature.
The inflation pressures apply to the tire 
sizes approved and tire brands recom-
mended by BMW; a list of these is available 
from your BMW center.<
For correct identification of the right tire infla-
tion pressures, observe the following:>Tire sizes for your vehicle
>Load conditions
>Maximum allowable driving speed
Tire inflation pressures for driving up 
to 100 mph or 160 km/h
For normal driving up to 100 mph or 160 km/h 
and to achieve optimum driving comfort, adjust 
pressures to the respective tire inflation pres-
sures listed on the following pages in the col-
umns for traveling speeds up to a maximum of 
100 mph or 160 km/h.
These tire inflation pressures can also be found 
on the driver's side door post when the driver's 
door is open.
The maximum permissible speed for 
these tire pressures is 100 mph or 
160 km/h. Do not exceed this speed; otherwise, 
tire damage and accidents could occur.<
Tire inflation pressures for driving 
above 100 mph or 160 km/h
In order to drive at maximum speeds in 
excess of 100 mph or 160 km/h, adjust 
pressures to the respective tire inflation pres-
sures listed on the following pages in the col-
umns for traveling speeds including those 
exceeding 100 mph or 160 km/h. Otherwise, 
tire damage and accidents could occur.<
Observe all national and local maximum speed 
limits; otherwise, violations of the laws could 
occur. 

Mobility
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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 page220.
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/
3 mm, 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. 
Otherwise, tire damage can pose a lethal hazard 
to vehicle occupants and other road users.< 

Wheels and tires
220
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, page93.
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 page94. Your 
BMW center will be glad to advise you. 

Under the hood
222
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 personnel. If this work 
is not carried out properly, there is a danger of 
subsequent damage and related safety haz-
ards.<
Hood
Releasing
Pull the lever.
Opening
In order to avoid damage, make sure that 
the wiper arms are against the windshield 
before you open the hood. Do not open the 
engine hood before the engine has cooled 
down; otherwise, injuries may result.<
Press the release handle and open the hood.
Closing
Let the hood drop from a height of approx. 
10 in/25 cm. 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 completely closed, stop at 
once and close it securely.< 

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Too much oil will harm the engine. 
Have the vehicle checked without 
delay.<
>"Measurement inactive. Have this 
checked."
Do not add engine oil. You can continue 
your journey. Note the newly calculated dis-
tance remaining to the next oil service, refer 
to page80. Have the system checked as 
soon as possible.
Adding engine oil
Add up to 1 US quart/1 liter of engine oil only 
after a corresponding message is shown on the 
Control Display.
Add oil within the next 125 miles/200 km; 
otherwise, the engine could be dam-
aged.<
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 y our B MW  c ente r o r a t 
a workshop that works according to BMW 
repair procedures with correspondingly trained 
personnel.
Oil types
Do not use oil additives as this could 
result in engine damage.<
Specified engine oils
Your service center can advise you on which 
engine oils have been approved by the manu-
facturer of your vehicle.
The engine oil quality is critical for the life of the 
engine.
Approved oils can be identified by the following 
specification:
Approved oils belong to the following viscosity 
classes: SAE0W-40, SAE0W-30, SAE5W-40 
and SAE 5W-30.
Alternative oil types
If approved oils are not available, you can use 
quantities of up to 1 US quart/1 liter of another 
oil with the following specifications:
API SM or higher
Gasoline engine
Preferred: BMW Longlife-01
BMW Longlife-01 FE
Alternatively: BMW Longlife-98