Tire Identification Number
Tires with DOT codes meet the guidelines of the
U.S. Department of Transportation.
DOT code:
DOT xxxx xxx 3311
xxxx: manufacturer code for the tire brand
xxx: tire size and tire design
3311: tire age
Tire age
The tire manufacturing date is contained in the
tire identification mark: DOT ... 3311 means that
the tire was manufactured in the week 33 of
2011.
BMW recommends that you replace all tires af‐
ter 6 years at most, even if some tires may last
for 10 years.
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Quality grades can be found where applicable
on the tire sidewall between tread shoulder and
maximum section width. For example:
Treadwear 200 Traction AA
Temperature A
DOT Quality Grades
Treadwear
Traction AA A B C
Temperature A B C
All passenger car tires must conform to
Federal Safety Requirements in addition
to these grades.◀
Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating
based on the wear rate of the tire when tested
under controlled conditions on a specified gov‐
ernment test course. For example, a tire graded
150 would wear one and one-half (11/2) times
as well on the government course as a tire
graded 100. The relative performance of tires
depends upon the actual conditions of their use,however, and may depart significantly from the
norm due to variations in driving habits, service
practices and differences in road characteristics
and climate.
Traction
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are
AA, A, B, and C.
Those grades represent the tire’s ability to stop
on wet pavement as measured under controlled
conditions on specified government test surfa‐
ces of asphalt and concrete. A tire marked C may
have poor traction performance.
The traction grade assigned to this tire is based
on straight-ahead braking traction tests, and
does not include acceleration, cornering, hydro‐
planing, or peak traction characteristics.
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. Sus‐
tained 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 Vehicle Safety
Standard No. 109. Grades B and A represent
higher levels of performance on the laboratory
test wheel than the minimum required by law.
Temperature grade for this tire
The temperature grade for this tire is es‐
tablished for a tire that is properly inflated and
not overloaded. Excessive speed, underinfla‐
tion, or excessive loading, either separately or in
combination, can cause heat buildup and pos‐
sible tire failure.◀Seite 159Wheels and tiresMobility159
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RSC – Run-flat tires
The symbol identifying run-flat tires is a circle
with the letters RSC on the sidewall, refer to
page 161.
M+S
Winter and all-season tires.
These have better winter properties than
summer tires.
XL
Designation for specially reinforced tires.
Tire tread
Summer tires
Do not drive with a tire tread depth of less than
0.12 in/3 mm.
There is an increased danger of hydroplaning if
the tread depth is less than 0.12 in/3 mm.
Winter tires
Do not drive with a tire tread depth of less than
0.16 in/4 mm.
Below a tread depth of 0.16 in/4 mm, tires are
less suitable for winter operation.
Minimum tread depth
Wear indicators are distributed around the tire's
circumference and have the legally required
minimum height of 0.063 in/1.6 mm.
They are marked on the side of the tire with TWI,
Tread Wear Indicator.
Tire damage
Driving over rough or damaged road surfaces, as
well as debris, curbs and other obstacles can
cause serious damage to wheels, tires and sus‐
pension parts. This is more likely to occur with
low-profile tires, which provide less cushioning
between the wheel and the road. Be careful to
avoid road hazards and reduce your speed, es‐
pecially if your vehicle is equipped with low-pro‐
file tires.
Inspect your tires often for damage, foreign ob‐
jects lodged in the tread, and tread wear.
Indications of tire damage or other vehicle de‐
fects:▷Unusual vibrations during driving.▷Unusual handling such as a strong tendency
to pull to the left or right.
In case of tire damage
If there are indications of tire damage, re‐
duce your speed immediately and have the
wheels and tires checked right away; otherwise,
there is the increased risk of an accident.
Drive carefully to the next service center or tire
shop.
If necessary, have the vehicle towed.◀
Repair of tire damage
For safety reasons, the manufacturer of
your vehicle recommends that you do not have
damaged tires repaired; they should be re‐
placed. Otherwise, damage can occur as a re‐
sult.◀
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Run-flat tires
Label
RSC label on the tire sidewall.
The wheels are composed of special rims and
tires that are self-supporting, to a limited de‐
gree.
The support of the sidewall allows the tire to re‐
main drivable to a restricted degree in the event
of a pressure loss.
Driving can continue with a damaged tire, refer
to page 77.
Changing run-flat tires
For your own safety, only use run-flat tires. No
spare tire is available in the case of a flat tire. Your
service center will be glad to advise you.
Changing wheels and tires
Mounting Information on mounting tires
Have mounting and balancing performed
only by a service center or tire specialist.
If this work is not carried out properly, there is
the danger of subsequent damage and related
safety hazards.◀
Wheel and tire combination
Information on the correct wheel-tire combina‐
tion and rim versions for your vehicle can be ob‐
tained from your service center.
Incorrect wheel and tire combinations impair the
function of a variety of systems such as ABS or
DSC.
To maintain good handling and vehicle re‐
sponse, use only tires with a single tread con‐
figuration from a single manufacturer.
Following tire damage, have the original wheel
and tire combination remounted on the vehicle
as soon as possible.
Approved wheels and tires
The manufacturer of your vehicle recom‐
mends that you use only wheels and tires that
have been approved for your particular vehicle
model.
For example, despite having the same official
size ratings, variations can lead to body contact
and with it, the risk of severe accidents.
The manufacturer of your vehicle cannot evalu‐
ate non-approved wheels and tires to determine
if they are suited for use, and therefore cannot
ensure the operating safety of the vehicle if they
are mounted.◀
Recommended tire brands
For each tire size, the manufacturer of your ve‐
hicle recommends certain tire brands. These
can be identified by a star on the tire sidewall.
With proper use, these tires meet the highest
standards for safety and handling.
Retreaded tires
The manufacturer of your vehicle does not rec‐
ommend the use of retreaded tires.
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Retreaded tires
Possibly substantial variations in the de‐
sign and age of the tire casing structures can
limit service life and have a negative impact on
road safety.◀
Winter tires
The manufacturer of your vehicle recommends
winter tires for winter roads or at temperatures
below +45 ℉/+7 ℃.
Although so-called all-season M+S tires do pro‐
vide better winter traction than summer tires,
they do not provide the same level of perform‐
ance as winter tires.
Maximum speed of winter tires
If the maximum speed of the vehicle is higher
than the permissible speed for the winter tires,
then display a corresponding sign in the field of
vision. You can obtain this sign from the tire spe‐
cialist or from your service center.
Maximum speed for winter tires
Do not exceed the maximum speed for the
winter tires; otherwise, tire damage and acci‐
dents can occur.◀
Run-flat tires
For your own safety, only use run-flat tires. No
spare tire is available in the case of a flat tire. Your
service center will be glad to advise you.
Rotating wheels between axles
The manufacturer of your vehicle advises
against swapping wheels between the front and
rear axles.
This can impair the handling characteristics.
Rotating the tires is not permissible when using
different types of tires.
Storage
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 pres‐
sure indicated on the side wall of the tire.
Snow chains
Only certain fine-link snow chains have been
tested by BMW, classified as safe for use and
recommended. Consult your service center for
more information.
Snow chains must be mounted in pairs and on
the rear wheels only. Observe the manufactur‐
er's instructions when mounting snow chains.
Do not exceed a speed of 30 mph/50 km/h when
using snow chains.
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, it can be bene‐
ficial to temporarily activate DTC, refer to
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Hood
Opening the hood Working in the engine compartment
Never attempt to perform any service or
repair operations on your vehicle without the
necessary professional technical training.
If you are unfamiliar with the statutory guide‐
lines, have any work on the vehicle performed
only by a service center.
If this work is not carried out properly, there is
the danger of subsequent damage and related
safety hazards.◀
To avoid damage, make sure that the
wiper arms are resting against the wind‐
shield before you open the engine compart‐
ment. Do not open the engine hood before the
engine has cooled down; otherwise, injuries may
result.◀1.Pull the lever.2.Push the release lever to the right and open
the hood.Danger of injury when the hood is open
There is a danger of injury from protruding
parts when the hood is open.◀
Closing the hood
Close the hood from a height of approx. 16 in/
40 cm with momentum. It must be clearly heard
to engage.
Hood open when driving
If you see any signs that the hood is not
completely closed while driving, pull over imme‐
diately and close it securely.◀
Danger of pinching
Make sure that the closing path of the
hood is clear; otherwise, injuries may result.◀
Checking the oil level
The concept
Your car is equipped with an electronic engine
oil level check.
Requirements
▷The engine must be running and warm after
the vehicle has been driven for at least
6.2 miles/10 km.▷The vehicle is stopped or being driven on a
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Display in the instrument cluster1.Press button 1 in the turn indicator lever up
or down repeatedly until the appropriate
symbol appears in the display, accompanied
by the word "OIL".2.Press button 2 in the turn indicator lever.
The oil level is checked and the reading dis‐
played.
Possible displays
Too much engine oil
Have the vehicle checked immediately;
otherwise, surplus oil can lead to engine dam‐
age.◀
1Oil level OK2Oil level is being checked. This can take
about 3 minutes if the car is at a standstill on
a level surface, or about 5 minutes while the
car is on the move.3Oil level at minimum: add engine oil as soon
as possible, but no more than 1 US quart/
1 liter.4Oil level is too high.5The oil level sensor is defective. Do not add
engine oil. It is possible to continue driving.
Note the newly calculated remaining mile‐
age until the next oil service. Have the sys‐
tem checked as soon as possible.
Adding engine oil
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Depending on the engine, the filler neck is lo‐
cated in the middle, as shown, or at the front
corner in the engine cover.
Add a maximum quantity of 1 US quart/1 liter of
oil only after the following warning lamp lights up
in the instrument cluster or the oil level monitor
shows "+1qt" or "+1l".
Add oil promptly
Add oil within the next 125 miles/200 km;
otherwise, engine damage could result.◀
Protect children
Keep oil, grease, etc., out of reach of chil‐
dren and heed the warnings on the containers
to prevent health risks.◀
Oil types for refilling
Notes No oil additives
Oil additives may lead to engine damage. ◀
Viscosity classes of engine oils
When selecting an engine oil, ensure that
the engine oil belongs to one of the viscosity
classes SAE 0W-40, SAE 0W-30, SAE 5W-40,
or SAE 5W-30, or malfunctions or engine dam‐
age may occur.◀
The engine oil quality is critical for the life of the
engine.
Some oil types are not available in all countries.
Approved oil typesSpecificationBMW High Performance SAE 5W-30BMW Longlife-01BMW Longlife-01 FE
Further information on approved oil types can be
obtained from the service center.
Alternative oil types
If the approved engine oils are not available, up
to 1 US quart/liter of an oil with the following
specification can be used:
SpecificationAPI SM or a higher quality standard
Oil change
An oil change should be carried out by the serv‐
ice center only.
Coolant
General information Danger of burns from hot engine
Do not open the cooling system while the
engine is hot; otherwise, escaping coolant may
cause burns.◀
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Suitable additives
Only use suitable additives; otherwise, en‐
gine damage may occur. The additives are
harmful to your health.◀
Coolant consists of water and additives.
Not all commercially available additives are suit‐
able for your vehicle. Ask your service center for
suitable additives.
Checking the coolant level1.Let the engine cool.2.Turn the expansion tank cap counterclock‐
wise slightly to allow any accumulated pres‐
sure to escape, then continue turning to
open.3.The coolant level is correct if it is between
the maximum and minimum marks in the
filler neck, refer also to the diagram next to
the filler neck.4.If the coolant is low, slowly add coolant up to
the specified level; do not overfill.5.Turn the cap until there is an audible click.6.Have the cause of the coolant loss elimi‐
nated as soon as possible.
Disposal
Comply with the appropriate environmen‐
tal protection regulations when disposing
of coolant additives.
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