
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
possible tire failure.
If necessary, have the vehicle towed.◀
RSC – Run-flat tires
Run-flat tires, refer to page 165, are labeled
with a circular symbol containing the letters RSC marked on the sidewall.
M+S
Winter and all-season tires with better cold
weather performance than summer tires.
Tire treadSummer 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 re‐
quired 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
General information
Inspect your tires often for damage, foreign
objects lodged in the tread, and tread wear.
Notes
Driving over rough or damaged road surfaces,
as well as debris, curbs and other obstacles can cause serious damage to wheels, tires and
suspension parts. This is more likely to occur
with low-profile tires, which provide less cush‐
ioning between the wheel and the road. Be
careful to avoid road hazards and reduce your
speed, especially if your vehicle is equipped
with low-profile tires.
Indications of tire damage or other vehicle de‐
fects:
▷Unusual vibrations during driving.▷Unusual handling such as a strong ten‐
dency to pull to the left or right.
Damage can, e. g., be caused by driving over
curbs, road damage, or similar things.
Seite 163Wheels and tiresMobility163
Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 911 041 - VI/13

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; other‐
wise, there is the increased risk of an accident.
Drive carefully to the nearest service center. If
necessary, have the vehicle towed.
Otherwise, tire damage can be life-threatening
for vehicle occupants and other traffic partici‐
pants.◀
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.◀
Changing wheels and tires
Mounting Information on mounting tires
Have mounting and balancing 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.◀
Wheel and tire combination
Information on the correct wheel-tire combina‐
tion and rim versions for your vehicle can be
obtained 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 con‐
tact and with it, the risk of severe accidents.
The manufacturer of your vehicle cannot eval‐
uate non-approved wheels and tires to deter‐
mine if they are suited for use, and therefore
cannot ensure the operating safety of the vehi‐
cle 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.
New tires Due to technical factors associated with their
manufacture, tires do not achieve their full
traction potential until after an initial breaking-
in period.
Drive conservatively for the first
200 miles/300 km.
Retreaded tires
The manufacturer of your vehicle does not rec‐
ommend the use of retreaded tires.
Seite 164MobilityWheels and tires164
Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 911 041 - VI/13

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
provide better winter traction than summer tires, they do not provide the same level of per‐
formance 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
specialist or from your service center.
Maximum speed for winter tires
Do not exceed the maximum speed for
the winter tires; otherwise, tire damage and ac‐
cidents can occur.◀
Run-flat tires If you are already using run-flat tires, for your
own safety you should replace them only with
the same kind. 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 switching wheels between the front
and rear axles.
This can impair the handling characteristics.
StorageStore 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.
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
remain drivable to a restricted degree in the
event of a pressure loss.
Continued driving with a damaged tire, refer to
page 102.
Continued driving with a damaged tire, refer to
page 99.
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.
Snow chains
Fine-link snow chains
Only certain types of fine-link snow chains
have been tested by the manufacturer of your
vehicle, classified as road-safe and recom‐
mended.
Seite 165Wheels and tiresMobility165
Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 911 041 - VI/13

Consult your service center for more informa‐
tion.
Use Use only in pairs on the rear wheels, equipped
with the tires of the following size:▷205/65 R 17.▷225/60 R 17.▷245/50 R 18.▷245/45 R 19.
No snow chains on size 245/55 R 17 tires
Do not mount snow chains on size
245/55 R 17 tires; otherwise, the vehicle may
become damaged.◀
Follow the chain manufacturer's instructions.
Make sure that the snow chains are always
sufficiently tight. Retighten as needed accord‐
ing to the chain manufacturer's instructions.
Do not initialize the Flat Tire Monitor after
mounting snow chains, as doing so may result
in incorrect readings.
Do not initialize the Tire Pressure Monitor after
mounting snow chains, as doing so may result
in incorrect readings.
When driving with snow chains, briefly activate
Dynamic Traction Control if necessary.
Maximum speed with snow chains Do not exceed a speed of 30 mph/50 km/h
when using snow chains.
Seite 166MobilityWheels and tires166
Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 911 041 - VI/13

Changing wheels
Hints
The vehicle equipment does not include a
spare tire.
When using run-flat tires or tire sealants, a tire
does not need to be changed immediately in
the event of pressure loss due to a flat tire.
The tools for changing wheels are available as
accessories from your service center.
Jacking points for the vehicle jack
The jacking points for the vehicle jack are lo‐
cated at the positions shown.
Vehicle battery Maintenance
The battery is maintenance-free, i.e., the elec‐
trolyte will last for the life of the battery.
Your service center will be glad to advise you
on questions regarding the battery.
Battery replacement Use approved vehicle batteries only
Only use vehicle batteries that have been
approved for your vehicle by the manufacturer;
otherwise, the vehicle could be damaged and
systems or functions may not be fully availa‐
ble.◀
After a battery replacement, have the battery
registered on the vehicle by your service cen‐
ter to ensure that all comfort functions are fully
available and that any Check Control mes‐
sages of these comfort functions are no longer
displayed.
Charging the battery
Note Do not plug chargers into the socketDo not connect battery chargers to the
factory-installed sockets in the vehicle as this
may damage the battery.◀
General information Make sure that the battery is always suffi‐
ciently charged to guarantee that the battery
remains usable for its full service life.
The battery may need to be charged in the fol‐
lowing cases:▷When making frequent short-distance
drives.▷If the vehicle is not used for prolonged pe‐
riods, longer than a month.
Starting aid terminals
In the vehicle, only charge the battery via the
starting aid terminals, refer to page 184, in the
engine compartment with the engine off.
Power failure After a temporary power loss, some equipment
needs to be reinitialized.
Individual settings need to be reprogrammed:
▷Seat and mirror memory: store the posi‐
tions again.▷Time: update.▷Date: update.▷Radio station: saving new, see user's
manual for Navigation, Entertainment and
Communication.▷Navigation system: wait for the operability
of the navigation.Seite 180MobilityReplacing components180
Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 911 041 - VI/13

CareVehicle equipmentAll standard, country-specific and optional
equipment that is offered in the model series is
described in this chapter. Therefore, equip‐
ment is also described that is not available in a
vehicle, e. g., because of the selected optional
equipment or country variant. This also applies
for safety-related functions and systems.
Car washes Hints Steam jets or high-pressure washers
When using steam jets or high-pressure
washers, hold them a sufficient distance away and use a maximum temperature of
140 ℉/60 ℃.
If the vehicle has a glass sunroof, ensure that a distance of at least 31.5 inches/80 cm is main‐
tained. Holding them too close or using exces‐
sively high pressures or temperatures can
cause damage or preliminary damage that may
then lead to long-term damage.
Follow the user's manual for the high-pressure
washer.◀
Cleaning sensors/cameras with high-
pressure washers
When using high-pressure washers, do not
spray the exterior sensors and cameras, e.g., Park Distance Control, for extended periods of
time and only from a distance of at least
12 in/30 cm.◀
Regularly remove foreign items such as leaves
in the area below the windshield when the
hood is raised.
Wash your vehicle frequently, particularly in
winter.Intense soiling and road salt can damage the
vehicle.
Automatic car washes
Hints
Note the following:▷Give preference to cloth car washes or
those that use soft brushes in order to
avoid paint damage.▷Make sure that the wheels and tires are not
damaged by the transport mechanisms.▷Fold in the exterior mirrors; otherwise, they
may be damaged, depending on the width
of the vehicle.▷Deactivate the rain sensor, refer to
page 69, to avoid unintentional wiper acti‐
vation.▷In some cases, an unintentional alarm can
be triggered by the interior motion sensor
of the alarm system. Follow the instruc‐
tions on avoiding an unintentional alarm,
refer to page 44.
Guide rails in car washes
Avoid car washes with guide rails higher
than 4 in/10 cm; otherwise, the vehicle body
could be damaged.◀
Before driving into a car wash In order to ensure that the vehicle can roll in a
car wash, take the following steps:
Automatic transmission:
1.Drive into the car wash.2.Engage transmission position N.3.Switch the engine off.
In this way, the ignition remains switched
on, and a Check-Control message is dis‐
played.Seite 187CareMobility187
Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 911 041 - VI/13

Use leather care products; otherwise, dirt and
grease will gradually break down the protective
layer of the leather surface.
Suitable care products are available from the
service center.
Upholstery material care Vacuum regularly with a vacuum cleaner.
If they are very dirty, e.g., beverage stains, use
a soft sponge or microfiber cloth with a suita‐
ble interior cleaner.
Clean the upholstery down to the seams using
large sweeping motions. Avoid rubbing the
material vigorously.
Damage from Velcro® fasteners
Open Velcro® fasteners on pants or
other articles of clothing can damage the seat
covers. Ensure that any Velcro® fasteners are
closed.◀
Caring for special components
Light-alloy wheels When cleaning the vehicle, use only neutral
wheel cleaners having a pH value from 5 to 9.
Do not use abrasive cleaning agents or steam
jets above 140 ℉/60 ℃. Follow the manufac‐
turer's instructions.
Aggressive, acidic or alkaline cleaning agents
can destroy the protective layer of adjacent
components, such as the brake disk.
Chrome surfaces Carefully clean components such as the radia‐
tor grille or door handles with an ample supply of water, possibly with shampoo added, partic‐
ularly when they have been exposed to road
salt.
Rubber components Aside from water, treat only with rubber
cleansers.When cleaning rubber seals, do not use any
silicon-containing car care products in order to
avoid damage or reduced noise damping.
Fine wood parts Clean fine wood facing and fine wood compo‐
nents only with a moist rag. Then dry with a
soft cloth.
Plastic components
These include:▷Imitation leather surfaces.▷Headliner.▷Lamp lenses.▷Instrument cluster cover.▷Matte black spray-coated components.▷Painted parts in the interior.
Clean with a microfiber cloth.
Lightly dampen the cloth with water.
Do not soak the headliner.
Do not use cleansers that contain alcohol
or solvents
Do not use cleansers that contain alcohol or
solvents, such as lacquer thinners, heavy-duty
grease removers, fuel, or such; this could lead
to surface damage.◀
Safety belts
Dirty belt straps impede the reeling action and
thus have a negative impact on safety.
Chemical cleaning
Do not clean chemically; this can destroy
the webbing.◀
Use only a mild soapy solution, with the safety
belts clipped into their buckles.
Do not allow the reels to retract the safety
belts until they are dry.
Seite 189CareMobility189
Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 911 041 - VI/13

Length, wheel base1Wheel base: 110.6 inches/2,810 mm2Vehicle length: 182.9 inches / 4,648 mmSmallest turning circle
Dia.: 39 ft/11.9 m
Weights
X3 xDrive28iApproved gross vehicle weightlbs/kg5,137/2,330Loadlbs/kg904/410Approved front axle loadlbs/kg2,404/1,090Approved rear axle loadlbs/kg2,823/1,280Approved roof load capacitylbs/kg220/100Trunk capacitycu ft/l19.4–56.5
550–1,600Seite 195Technical dataReference195
Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 911 041 - VI/13