2012 BMW Z4 SDRIVE35I flat tire

Ensure that the floor mats are securely fastened
again when they are returned after being re‐
moved, such as for cleaning.◀
Driving in wet conditions
When roads are wet or there is heavy rain, briefly
exert gentle pressure on the brake pedal every
few miles.
Ensure that this action does not endanger other
road users.
The heat generated in this process helps dry the
brake discs and pads.
In this way braking efficiency will be available
when you need it.
Hills
Drive long or steep downhill gradients in the gear
in which the least braking is required. Otherwise,
the brake system may overheat, resulting in a
reduction in the brake system efficiency.
You can increase the engine's braking effect by
shifting down, going all the way to first gear, if
necessary.
Downshifting in manual mode of the 8-gear
Sport automatic transmission, refer to page 54.
Downshifting in manual mode of the 7-gear
Sport automatic transmission with dual clutch,
refer to page 57.
Avoid load on the brakes
Avoid placing excessive load on the brake
system. Light but consistent brake pressure can
lead to high temperatures, brake wear and pos‐
sibly even brake failure.◀
Do not drive in neutral
Never drive with the transmission in neu‐
tral, with the engine switched off or with the
clutch depressed; otherwise, you will have nei‐
ther the braking action of the engine or nor its
power assistance when braking or steering.◀Brake disc corrosion
Corrosion on the brake discs and contamination
on the brake pads are furthered by:▷Low mileage.▷Extended periods when the vehicle is not
used at all.▷Infrequent use of the brakes.
Corrosion occurs when the minimum pressure
that must be exerted by the pads during brake
applications to clean the discs is not reached.
Should corrosion form on the brake discs, the
brakes will tend to respond with a pulsating ef‐
fect that generally cannot be corrected.
Condensation under the parked vehicle
When using the automatic climate control, con‐
densation water develops that exits underneath
the vehicle.
Therefore, traces of condensed water under the
vehicle are normal.
Loading Overloading the vehicle
To avoid exceeding the approved carrying
capacity of the tires, never overload the vehicle.
Overloading can lead to overheating and in‐
creases the rate at which damage develops in‐
side the tires. This could result in a sudden loss
of tire inflation pressure.◀
Secure heavy objects
Never transport unsecured heavy or hard
objects in the passenger compartment, as they
could be thrown around and pose a safety haz‐
ard to the vehicle's occupants during abrupt
braking or evasive maneuvers.◀
No fluids in the cargo area
Make sure that fluids do not leak into the
cargo area; otherwise, the vehicle may be dam‐
aged.◀
Seite 110Driving tipsThings to remember when driving110
Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 609 184 - 09 11 500

Close both windows
An open window causes higher air resistance
and thus increases fuel consumption.
Check the tire inflation pressure
regularly
Check and, if necessary, correct the tire inflation
pressure, refer to page 155, at least twice a
month and before starting on a long trip.
Low tire inflation pressure increases rolling re‐
sistance and thus raises fuel consumption and
tire wear.
Drive away without delay
Do not wait for the engine to warm up while the
vehicle remains stationary. Start driving right
away, but at moderate engine speeds.
This is the fastest way for the cold engine to
reach its operating temperature.
Look well ahead when driving
Avoid unnecessary acceleration and braking.
By maintaining a suitable distance to the vehicle
driving ahead of you.
Driving smoothly and looking ahead reduces
fuel consumption.
Avoid high engine speeds
Use 1st gear to get the vehicle in motion. Be‐
ginning with 2nd gear, accelerate rapidly. When
accelerating, shift up before reaching high en‐
gine speeds.
When you reach the desired speed, shift into the
highest applicable gear and drive with the en‐
gine speed as low as possible and at a constant
speed.
As a rule: driving at low engine speeds lowers
fuel consumption and reduces wear.
Use coasting conditions
When approaching a red light, take your foot off
the accelerator and coast to a halt in the highest
applicable gear.On a downhill slope, take your foot off the ac‐
celerator and coast in a suitable gear.
The flow of fuel is interrupted while coasting.
Switch off the engine during longer
stops
Switch off the engine during longer stops, e.g.,
at traffic lights, railroad crossings or in traffic
congestion.
Fuel savings are achieved after the vehicle is
switched off for only approx. 4 seconds.
The Automatic Engine Start/Stop Function au‐
tomatically switches the engine off during a
stop. Additional information on the Automatic
Engine Start/Stop Function, refer to page 47.
Switch off any functions that are not
currently needed
Functions such as the automatic climate control
require a large amount of energy and consume
additional fuel, especially in city and stop-and-
go traffic.
Therefore, switch off these functions if they are
not actually needed.
Have maintenance carried out
Have vehicles maintained regularly to achieve
optimal vehicle economy and operating life.
Have the maintenance carried out by your serv‐
ice center.
Please also note the BMW Maintenance Sys‐
tem, refer to page 168.Seite 113Things to remember when drivingDriving tips113
Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 609 184 - 09 11 500

Wheels and tiresVehicle equipment
This chapter describes all series equipment as
well as country-specific and special equipment
offered for this model series.Therefore, it also
describes equipment that may not be found in
your vehicle, for instance due to the selected
special equipment or the country version. This
also applies to safety-related functions and sys‐
tems.
Tire inflation pressure
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
Regularly check the tire inflation pressure
and correct it as needed: at least twice a month
and before a long trip. If you fail to observe this
precaution, you may be driving on tires with in‐
correct tire pressures, a condition that may not
only compromise your vehicle's driving stability,
but also lead to tire damage and the risk of an
accident.◀
Checking the pressure
Only check the 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 the tires
are warm, the tire inflation pressure is higher.
After correcting the tire inflation pressure, rein‐
itialize the Flat Tire Monitor, refer to page 75.
After correcting the tire inflation pressure, reset
the Tire Pressure Monitor, refer to page 78.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 recommended by
BMW; a list of these is available from your serv‐
ice center.
For correct identification of the right tire inflation
pressures, observe the following:▷Tire sizes of your vehicle.▷Maximum allowable driving speed.
Tire inflation pressures for driving up to
100 mph or 160 km/h
For normal driving up to 100 mph/160 km/h, ad‐
just pressures to the respective tire inflation
pressures listed on the following pages in the
column for traveling speeds up to 100 mph/
160 km/h to achieve optimum driving comfort.
These tire inflation pressures can also be found
on the driver's side door pillar when the driver's
door is open.
Do not exceed the maximum permissible
speed
The maximum permissible speed for these tire
pressures is 100 mph/160 km/h Do not exceed
this speed; otherwise, tire damage and acci‐
dents could occur.◀
Seite 155Wheels and tiresMobility155
Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 609 184 - 09 11 500

Tire inflation pressures for driving
above 100 mph or 160 km/h
Adjust the tire inflation pressures
To drive at maximum speeds in excess of
100 mph/160 km/h, adjust pressures to the re‐
spective tire inflation pressures listed on the fol‐
lowing pages in the column for traveling speedsincluding 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 oc‐
cur.
Tire inflation pressures Z4 sDrive28i

Tire sizePressure specifications in bar/PSITraveling speeds of up
to 100 mph/160 km/hTraveling speeds in‐
cluding those exceed‐
ing 100 mph/160 km/hAll pressure specifications in the table are in‐
dicated in bar/psi with cold tires.
Cold = ambient temperatureWithout Sport Package:225/45 R 17 91 V RSC
225/45 R 17 91 H M+S RSC
225/45 R 17 94 V M+S XL RSC2.5/363.0/442.5/363.0/44Front: 225/45 R 17 91 V RSC2.5/36-2.5/36-Rear: 255/40 R 17 94 V RSC-2.7/39-2.7/39Front: 225/40 R 18 88 W RSC2.5/36-2.5/36-Rear: 255/35 R 18 90 W RSC-2.9/42-2.9/42Front: 225/35 R 19 88 Y XL RSC2.5/36-2.5/36-Rear: 255/30 R 19 91 Y XL RSC-2.9/42-2.9/42With Sport Package:225/45 R 17 91 W RSC
225/45 R 17 91 H M+S RSC
225/45 R 17 94 V M+S XL RSC2.5/363.0/442.5/363.0/44Front: 225/45 R 17 91 W RSC2.5/36-2.5/36-Rear: 255/40 R 17 94 W RSC-2.7/39-2.7/39Seite 156MobilityWheels and tires156
Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 609 184 - 09 11 500

Tire sizePressure specifications in bar/PSIFront: 225/40 R 18 88 W RSC2.5/36-2.6/38-Rear: 255/35 R 18 90 W RSC-2.9/42-3.1/45Front: 225/35 R 19 88 Y XL RSC2.5/36-2.5/36-Rear: 255/30 R 19 91 Y XL RSC-2.9/42-3.0/44More details on the permissible load and weights, refer to page 204.
Tire inflation pressures Z4 sDrive35i

Tire sizePressure specifications in bar/PSITraveling speeds of up
to 100 mph/160 km/hTraveling speeds in‐
cluding those exceed‐
ing 100 mph/160 km/hAll pressure specifications in the table are in‐
dicated in bar/psi with cold tires.
Cold = ambient temperatureWithout Sport Package:225/45 R 17 91 H M+S RSC
225/45 R 17 94 V M+S XL RSC2.5/363.0/442.5/363.0/44Front: 225/45 R 17 91 V RSC2.5/36-2.5/36-Rear: 255/40 R 17 94 V RSC-2.7/39-2.7/39Front: 225/40 R 18 88 W RSC2.5/36-2.5/36-Rear: 255/35 R 18 90 W RSC-2.9/42-2.9/42Front: 225/35 R 19 88 Y XL RSC2.5/36-2.5/36-Rear: 255/30 R 19 91 Y XL RSC-2.9/42-2.9/42With Sport Package:225/45 R 17 91 H M+S RSC
225/45 R 17 94 V M+S XL RSC2.5/363.0/442.5/363.0/44Front: 225/45 R 17 91 W RSC2.5/36-2.5/36-Rear: 255/40 R 17 94 W RSC-2.7/39-2.8/41Front: 225/40 R 18 88 W RSC2.5/36-2.7/39-Seite 157Wheels and tiresMobility157
Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 609 184 - 09 11 500

Tire sizePressure specifications in bar/PSIRear: 255/35 R 18 90 W RSC-2.9/42-3.2/46Front: 225/35 R 19 88 Y XL RSC2.5/36-2.5/36-Rear: 255/30 R 19 91 Y XL RSC-2.9/42-3.0/44More details on the permissible load and weights, refer to page 204.
Tire inflation pressures Z4 sDrive35is

Tire sizePressure specifications in bar/PSITraveling speeds of up
to 100 mph/160 km/hTraveling speeds in‐
cluding those exceed‐
ing 100 mph/160 km/hAll pressure specifications in the table are in‐
dicated in bar/psi with cold tires.
Cold = ambient temperature225/45 R 17 91 H M+S RSC
225/45 R 17 94 V M+S XL RSC2.5/363.0/442.5/363.0/44Front: 225/40 R 18 88 W RSC2.7/39-2.7/39-Rear: 255/35 R 18 90 W RSC-3.2/46-3.2/46Front: 225/35 R 19 88 Y XL RSC2.5/36-2.5/36-Rear: 255/30 R 19 91 Y XL RSC-3.0/44-3.0/44More details on the permissible load and weights, refer to page 204.Tire identification marks
Knowledge of the labeling on the side of the tire
makes it easier to identify and choose the right
tires.
Tire size
Example: 225/45 R 17 91 V
225: nominal width in mm
45: aspect ratio in %
R: radial tire code
17: rim diameter in inches91: load rating, not for ZR tires
V: speed rating, before the R on ZR tires
Speed letter
Q = up to 100 mph/160 km/h
T = up to 118 mph/190 km/h
H = up to 131 mph/210 km/h
V = up to 150 mph/240 km/h
W = up to 167 mph/270 km/h
Y = up to 186 mph/300 km/hSeite 158MobilityWheels and tires158
Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 609 184 - 09 11 500

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
Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 609 184 - 09 11 500

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.◀
Seite 160MobilityWheels and tires160
Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 609 184 - 09 11 500