
95
Technology for driving comfort and safety
Controls
Message for unsuc
cessful system 
reset
Yellow warning lamp lights up. A 
message appears on the Control 
Display.
The system has detected a wheel change, but 
was not reset. A reliable warning is not possible 
at the current inflation pressures.
Check the tire inflation  pressure and reset the 
system, refer to page 93.
Malfunction
The small warning lamp flashes in 
yellow and then lights up continu-
ously; the large warning lamp lights 
up in yellow. The tires appear in gray 
in the Control Display.  No punctures can be 
detected.
Display in the following situations:
> A wheel without TPM electronics has been 
installed:
Have it checked by your BMW center.
> Malfunction
Have the system checked
> Tire Pressure Monitor was unable to 
complete the resetting process. Reset the 
system again.
The small warning lamp flashes in 
yellow and then lights up continu-
ously; the large warning lamp lights 
up in yellow. The tires appear in gray 
in the Control Display.
Display in the following situations:
Interference from systems or devices that use 
the same radio frequency. The system auto-
matically becomes active again when the vehi-
cle moves out of the interference zone.
Declaration according to NHTSA/
FMVSS 138
Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems
Each tire should be checked monthly when cold 
and inflated to the inflation pressure recom-
mended by the vehicle manufacturer on the  vehicle placard or tire infl
ation pressure label. If 
your vehicle has tires of  a different size than the 
size indicated on the vehi cle placard or tire infla-
tion pressure label, you should determine the 
proper tire inflation pressure for those tires. As 
an added safety feature, your vehicle has been 
equipped with a tire pr essure monitoring sys-
tem, TPMS, that illuminate s a low tire pressure 
t e l l t a l e  w h e n  o n e  o r  m o r e  o f  y o u r  t i r e s  a r e  s i g n i f -
icantly underinflated.  Accordingly, when the 
low tire pressure telltal e illuminates, you should 
stop and check your tires as soon as possible, 
and inflate them to the proper pressure. Driving 
on a significantly underinflated tire causes the 
tire to overheat and ca n lead to tire failure. 
Underinflation also reduces fuel efficiency and 
tire tread life and may a ffect the vehicle's han-
dling and stopping ability. Please note that the 
TPMS is not a substitute for proper tire mainte-
nance, and it is the driver's responsibility to 
maintain correct tire pr essure, even if underin-
flation has not reached th e level to trigger illumi-
nation of the TPMS low  tire pressure indicator.
The TPMS malfunction indicator is combined 
with the low tire pressure telltale. When the sys-
tem detects a malfunction, the telltale will flash 
for approximately one minute and then remain 
continuously lit. This sequence will continue 
upon subsequent vehicle startups as long as 
the malfunction exists. When the malfunction 
indicator is illuminated, the system may not be 
able to detect or signal low tire pressure as 
intended. TPMS malfunctions may occur for a 
variety of reasons, includ ing the installation of 
replacement or alternate tires or wheels on the 
vehicle that prevent the TPMS from functioning 
properly. Always check the TPMS malfunction 
telltale after replacing one or more tires or 
wheels on your vehicle to ensure that the 
replacement or alternate tires and wheels allow 
the TPMS to continue  to function properly.
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98
ControlsTechnology for driving comfort and safety
Before transporting  a child on the front 
passenger seat, read the safety precau-
tions and handling inst ructions under Trans-
porting children safely, refer to page 58.
The front and side airbags can also be deacti-
vated by adolescents and adults sitting in cer-
tain positions; the indi cator lamp for the front 
passenger airbags lights up. In such cases, the 
passenger should change his or her sitting 
position so that the fr ont passenger airbags are 
activated and the indicator  lamp goes out. If the 
desired airbag status cannot be achieved by 
changing the sitting position, transport the rele-
vant passenger on a rear  seat. Do not attach 
seat covers, seat cushion padding, ball mats or 
other items to the front passenger seat unless 
they are specifically  recommended by BMW. 
Do not place any items under the seat which 
could press against the seat from below. Other-
wise, a correct analysis of the seat cushion is 
not ensured. <
Status of front passenger airbags
The indicator lamp for the front passenger air-
bags shows the functional status of the front 
passenger front and side airbags in accordance 
with whether and how the front passenger seat 
is occupied. The indicator lamp shows whether 
the front passenger airbags are activated or 
deactivated.
>The indicator lamp lights up when a child in 
a specially designated  child restraint sys-
tem is detected, as in tended, on the seat.
The front and side airbags for the front 
passenger are not activated. Most child seats are detected by the 
system. This partic
ularly applies to 
child seats that were  required by NHTSA at 
the time of manufacture  of the vehicle. After 
mounting a child seat,  ensure that the indi-
cator lamp for the fron t passenger airbag is 
lit. It indicates that th e child seat has been 
detected and that the front passenger air-
bags are deactivated. <
> The indicator lamp does  n o t  c o m e  o n  w h e n ,  
for example, a person of sufficient size and 
in a correct sitting position is detected on 
the seat.
The front and side airbags for the front 
passenger are activated.
> The indicator lamp does not light up if the 
seat is empty.
The front and side airbags for the front 
passenger are not activated.
Operational readine ss of airbag system
As of radio readiness, refer to page 61, the 
warning lamp lights up br iefly to indicate that 
the entire airbag system and the belt tensioners 
are operational.
Airbag system malfunction
> Warning lamp does not light up at radio 
readiness or beyond.
> Warning lamp remains permanently on.
In the event of a fault in the airbag system, 
have it checked withou t delay; otherwise, 
there is the risk that th e system will not function 
as intended even if a sufficiently severe acci-
dent occurs. <
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223
Wheels and tires
Mobility
Wheels and tires
Vehicle equipment
In this chapter, all production, country, and 
optional equipment that is offered in the model 
range is described. For this reason, descrip-
tions will be given of some equipment that may 
not be available in a vehi
cle, for example due to 
the special options or  national-market version 
selected. This also app lies to safety related 
functions and systems.
Tire inflation pressures
Information for your safety
It is not merely the tire s' service life, but also 
driving comfort and, to a great extent, driving 
safety that depend on th e condition of the tires 
and the maintenance of th e specified tire pres-
sure.
Check the tire inflation pressure regularly 
and correct it, if nece ssary: 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 
page 93, or reinitialize the Flat Tire Monitor, 
refer to page 91.<
Inflation pressure specifications
The tables below provide  all the correct inflation 
pressures for the specified tire sizes at ambient 
temperature.
The inflation pressure s 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 identificati on of the right tire 
inflation pressures, observe the following:
> Tire sizes for your vehicle
> Maximum allowable driving speed
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225
Wheels and tires
Mobility
Coupe: tire inflation pressures for the 128i
Coupe: tire inflation pressures for the 135i
Tire size Pressure specifications in bar/psi 
Traveling speeds up  to a max. of
100 mph/160 km/h Traveling speeds 
including those  exceeding 
100 mph/160 km/h
All pressure specifications in the table are 
indicated in bar/psi with cold tires. 
Cold = ambient temperature
195/55 R 16 87 H M+S RSC 2.2/32 2.6/38 2.4/35 2.9/42
205/50 R 17 89 H M+S A/S RSC
205/55 R 16 91 H M+S RSC
205/50 R 17 89 H M+S RSC 2.2/32 2.4/35 2.4/35 2.9/42
Front: 205/50 R 17 89 V RSC 2.2/32 - 2.5/36 -
Rear: 225/45 R 17 91 V RSC - 2.4/35 - 3.0/44
Front: 215/40 R 18 85 Y RSC 2.2/32 - 2.4/35 -
Rear: 245/35 R 18 88 Y RSC - 2.7/39 - 2.9/42
Compact spare wheel:
T 125/80 R 17 99 M Traveling speeds up to a max. of 50 mph/80 km/h
4.2/60
Tire size Pressure specifications in bar/psi 
Traveling speeds up  to a max. of
100 mph/160 km/h Traveling speeds 
including those 
exceeding 
100 mph/160 km/h
All pressure specifications in the table are 
indicated in bar/psi with cold tires. 
Cold = ambient temperature
205/50 R 17 89 H M+S A/S RSC
205/50 R 17 89 H M+S RSC 2.3/33 2.5/36
2.6/38 2.9/42
Front: 215/40 R 18 85 Y RSC 2.5/36 -2.6/38 -
Rear: 245/35 R 18 88 Y RSC - 2.7/39- 2.9/42
Compact spare wheel:
T 125/80 R 17 99 M Traveling speeds up to a max. of 50 mph/80 km/h
4.2/60
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226
MobilityWheels and tires
Convertible: tire inflation pressures for the 128i
Tire size Pressure specifications in bar/psi 
Traveling speeds up  to a max. of
100 mph/160 km/h Traveling speeds 
including those  exceeding 
100 mph/160 km/h
All pressure specificat ions in the table are 
indicated in bar/psi  with cold tires. 
Cold = ambient temperature
without Sport Package
205/55 R 16 91 H M+S A/S RSC
205/55 R 16 91 H M+S RSC 2.2/32 2.4/35 2.2/32 2.7/39
205/50 R 17 89 H M+S A/S RSC
205/50 R 17 89 H M+S RSC 2.2/32 2.6/38 2.4/35 2.9/42
Front: 205/50 R 17 89 V RSC 2.2/32 - 2.4/35 -
Rear: 225/45 R 17 91 V RSC - 2.5/36 - 2.8/41
Front: 215/40 R 18 85 Y RSC 2.4/35 - 2.4/35 -
Rear: 245/35 R 18 88 Y RSC - 2.8/41 - 2.8/41
Compact spare wheel:
T 125/80 R 17 99 M Traveling speeds up to a max. of 50 mph/80 km/h
4.2/60
with Sport Package
205/55 R 16 91 H M+S RSC 2.2/32 2.4/35 2.2/32 2.7/39
205/50 R 17 89 H M+S RSC 2.2/32 2.6/38 2.4/35 2.9/42
Front: 205/50 R 17 89 V RSC 2.2/32 - 2.7/39 -
Rear: 225/45 R 17 91 V RSC - 2.5/36 - 3.2/46
Front: 215/40 R 18 85 Y RSC 2.4/35 - 2.6/38 -
Rear: 245/35 R 18 88 Y RSC - 2.8/41 - 3.1/45
Compact spare wheel:
T 125/80 R 17 99 M Traveling speeds up to a max. of 50 mph/80 km/h
4.2/60
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227
Wheels and tires
Mobility
Convertible: tire inflation pressures for the 135i
Tire size Pressure specifications in bar/psi 
Traveling speeds up  to a max. of
100 mph/160 km/h Traveling speeds 
including those  exceeding 
100 mph/160 km/h
All pressure specifications in the table are 
indicated in bar/psi with cold tires. 
Cold = ambient temperature
without Sport Package
205/50 R 17 89 H M+S A/S RSC
205/50 R 17 89 H M+S RSC 2.2/32 2.6/38 2.5/36 2.9/42
Front: 215/40 R 18 85 Y RSC 2.7/39 - 2.7/39 -
Rear: 245/35 R 18 88 Y RSC - 2.8/41 - 2.8/41
Compact spare wheel:
T 125/80 R 17 99 M Traveling speeds up to a max. of 50 mph/80 km/h
4.2/60
with Sport Package
205/50 R 17 89 H M+S RSC 2.2/32 2.6/38 2.5/36 2.9/42
Front: 215/40 R 18 85 Y RSC 2.7/39 - 2.7/39 -
Rear: 245/35 R 18 88 Y RSC - 2.8/41 - 3.1/45
Compact spare wheel:
T 125/80 R 17 99 M Traveling speeds up to a max. of 50 mph/80 km/h
4.2/60
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228
MobilityWheels and tires
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
Speed code letter
Q = up to 100 mph or 160 km/h
T = up to 118 mph or 190 km/h
H = up to 131 mph or 210 km/h
V = up to 150 mph or 240 km/h
W = up to 167 mph or 270 km/h
Y = up to 186 mph or 300 km/h
Tire Identification Number
Tires with DOT codes meet the guidelines of 
the US Department of Transportation.
DOT code:
Tire age
The manufacturing date of tires is contained in 
the tire coding: DOT … 1013 means that the 
tire was manufactured in week 10 of 2013.
BMW recommends that you replace all tires 
after 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 betw een tread shoulder and 
maximum section width. For example:
Tread wear 200 Traction AA 
Temperature A
DOT Quality Grades
Tread wear 
Traction AA A B C 
Temperature A B C
All passenger car tires must conform to 
Federal Safety Requir ements in addition 
to these grades. <
Tread wear
The tread wear grade is a comparative rating 
based on the wear rate of the tire when tested 
under controlled conditio ns on a specified gov-
ernment test course. For example, a tire graded 
150 would wear one and one-half (1 γ) times as 
well on the government course as a tire graded 
100. The relative performance of tires depends 
upon the actual conditio ns of their use, how-
ever, and may depart significantly from the 
norm due to variations in driving habits, service 
practices and differences in road characteris-
tics and climate.
Traction
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are 
AA, A, B, and C. 
These grades represent the tire's ability to stop 
on wet pavement, as measured under con-
trolled conditions on specified government test 
surfaces of asphalt and concrete. A tire marked 
C may have poor traction performance.
e.g.
Nominal width in mm
Aspect ratio
in 
Ξ 
Radial belt construction
Rim diameter in inches
Load rating,
not on ZR tires
Speed code letter, in
front of the R on ZR tires
225/45 R1791 V
e.g.
Manufacturer's 
code for tire make
Tire size and 
tire design
Tire ageDOT xxxx xxx 4012
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230
MobilityWheels and tires
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 dealer. 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. <
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 ... 1013 means that the tire was manufac-
tured in week 10 of 2013.
New wheels and tires
Have new wheels and tires mounted only 
by your BMW center or  by a tire dealer. If 
this work is not carried  out properly, there is a 
danger of subsequent damage and related 
safety hazards. Make sure that the new wheels 
are balanced. <
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 ag e, 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 offi cial size ratings could 
actually have different dimensions, which could 
lead to body contact an d 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 
combination 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. Af ter a tire has been 
damaged, mount the previous wheel and tire 
combination 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 Monito r may not be able to 
detect a puncture, refer to page 94. Your BMW 
center will be glad  to advise you.
00320051004F004C00510048000300280047004C0057004C005200510003