air condition BMW 325CI 2004 User Guide

108
Tips for pleasant drivingUse the automatic mode – switch on
with AUTO button 6. Select the desired
interior temperature.
Detailed setting options are described
for you in the following section.
You can make the settings of your
vehicle in such a manner that,
when you unlock the vehicle with the
remote control of your personal key,
your own personalized setting for the
automatic climate control is initiated.<Automatic air distribution and
supply
The AUTO program adjusts the
air distribution and the air sup-
ply for you and in addition adapts the
temperature to external influences –
summer, winter – to meet preferences
you can specify.
Individual air distribution
You can cancel the AUTO pro-
gram by selecting specific dis-
tribution patterns to suit your
own individual requirements.
While the AUTO program is then deacti-
vated, the automatic airflow control
remains in operation. Air flows onto
the windows , toward the upper
body , and into the footwell . You
can reactivate the automatic air distri-
bution mode by selecting the AUTO
button.Temperature
The interior temperature that
appears in the display panel is a
general figure intended for refer-
ence purposes. We recommend 727/
+226 as a comfortable setting, even if
the air conditioning is on. When you
start the vehicle, the system ensures
that the selected temperature is
achieved as quickly as possible. It then
maintains this temperature, regardless
of the season.
To select the units of measure 6/7 of
the display, refer to page 90.
Air supply/Blower
By pressing the upper or lower
button, you can vary the air sup-
ply. This deactivates the auto-
matic control of the air supply, AUTO
disappears from the display panel. Nev-
ertheless, the automatic air distribution
remains unchanged. You can reactivate
the automatic air distribution mode by
selecting the AUTO button.
When the lowest blower speed is set
and you press the lower button, all of
the displays are canceled: the blower,
heating and air conditioning are
switched off. The outside air supply is
blocked. You can reactivate the system
by pressing any button for the auto-
matic climate control.To defrost windows and remove
condensation
This program quickly removes
ice and condensation from the
windshield and the side windows.
Air conditioning
The air is cooled and dehumidi-
fied and – depending on the
temperature setting – rewarmed.
Depending on the weather, the wind-
shield may fog over briefly when the
engine is started. Air conditioning helps
prevent the windows from fogging up.
Condensation forms during opera-
tion of the air conditioning system,
which then exits under the vehicle. It is
thus not unusual for a small puddle to
form under the car while the system is
running.<
Automatic climate control*

118
When reattaching the cover, guide
both bars into the guide and press
the cover back into place. Secure the
safety belts in their holders again.<
Cargo loading
Avoid overloading the vehicle so
that the permitted load on the tires
is not exceeded. Overloading can lead
to overheating and internal tire damage.
The ultimate result can assume the
form of a sudden air loss.<
Determining the maximum load1. Locate the following statement on
your vehicle‘s placard*:
The combined weight of occu-
pants and cargo should never
exceed XXX kg or YYY lbs., as this
could otherwise result in damage to the
vehicle or unstable driving conditions.<
2. Determine the combined weight of
the driver and passengers that will be
riding in your vehicle
3. Subtract the combined weight of the
driver and passengers from
XXX kilograms or YYY pounds
Ski bag*

129 Wheels and tires
Tire inflation pressureInformation for your safetyThe factory-approved tires are matched
to your vehicle and have been selected
to provide optimum safety and driving
comfort when used properly.
It is not merely the tire's service life, but
also driving comfort and – above all else
– driving safety that depend on the con-
dition of the tires and the maintenance
of the specified tire inflation pressure.
Incorrect tire inflation pressure is
a frequent cause of tire damage.
Tire pressure also has a major effect on
your BMW's handling response. Be
sure to check the tire inflation pressure,
including the space-saver spare tire or
the spare tire, on a regular basis, at
least twice a month and before every
extended journey, refer to page 25. If
this is not done, incorrect tire pressures
can cause driving instability and tire
damage, ultimately resulting in acci-
dents.<
Tire conditionTire tread – tire damageInspect your tires frequently for tread
wear, signs of damage and for foreign
objects lodged in the tread. Check the
tread depth.
Tread depth should not be allowed to
go below 1/8 in / 3 mm, even though
the legally specified minimum tread
depth is 1/16 in / 1.6 mm.
Below 1/8 in / 3 mm tread depth, there
is a great risk of hydroplaning, even at
relatively moderate speeds and with
only small amounts of water on the
road. Tread wear indicators in the
tread-groove base – see arrow – are
distributed around the wheel circumfer-
ence and are labeled on the tire side-
wall with TWI – Tread Wear Indicator. At
a tread depth of 1/16 in / 1.6 mm, the
indicators signal that the legally permis-
sible wear limit has been reached.
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex

130
Do not drive on a deflated – flat –
tire unless your vehicle is
equipped with Run Flat tires. A flat tire
greatly impairs steering and braking
response, and can lead to complete
loss of control over the vehicle. Avoid
overloading the vehicle so that the per-
mitted load on the tires is not
exceeded. Overloading can lead to
overheating and internal tire damage.
The ultimate result can assume the
form of a sudden air loss.
Unusual vibrations encountered during
normal vehicle operation can indicate a
flat tire or some other vehicle malfunc-
tion. This type of problem can be
caused by contact with curbs, etc. This
is also true for irregularities in the vehi-
cle's handling characteristics, such as a
pronounced tendency to pull to the left
or right. Should this occur, respond by
immediately reducing your speed. Pro-
ceed carefully to the nearest BMW cen-
ter or professional tire center, or have
the vehicle towed in to have it, its
wheels or its tires inspected.
Tire damage up to and including sud-
den and complete air loss can endan-
ger the lives of both the vehicle occu-
pants and other road users.<
Tire replacementTo maintain good handling and vehicle
response, use only tires of a single
tread configuration from a single manu-
facturer.
Comply with the specified tire inflation
pressures — and be sure to have the
wheel and tire assembly balanced
every time you change a tire or wheel.DOT quality gradesTread wear
Traction AA A B C
Temperature A B C
All passenger car tires must con-
form to Federal Safety Require-
ments in addition to these grades.<Tread wearThe tread wear grade is a comparative
rating based on the wear rate of the tire
when tested under controlled condi-
tions on a specified government test
course.
For example, a tire graded 150 would
wear one and one-half – 1
1/2 – times as
well on the government course as a tire
graded 100. The relative performance
of tires depends upon the actual condi-
tions of their use, however, and may
depart significantly from the norm due
to variations in driving habits, service
practices and differences in road char-
acteristics and climate.TractionThe 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 speci-
fied government test surfaces 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,
hydroplaning, or peak traction charac-
teristics.<TemperatureThe 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 condi-
tions on a specified indoor laboratory
test wheel.
Tire condition

132
Wheel and tire combinationsThe right choice
BMW recommends using only
wheels and tires that have been
approved by BMW for your particular
vehicle model, as otherwise body con-
tact and serious accidents can result
despite the use of the same nominal
size, e.g. due to manufacturing toler-
ances. BMW cannot evaluate all tires
and wheels on the market, and is thus
unable to guarantee that the vehicle will
continue to perform safely if unap-
proved tires and/or wheels are
mounted.<
For each tire size, BMW has assessed
the safe performance of specific tire
brands and approved them for use.
Consult any BMW center for details.
Comply with any local/national regula-
tions, for example by recording the tire
type in the vehicle documents.
The correct wheel and tire combi-
nation affects various systems
that would otherwise be impaired, for
example ABS, DSC and DBC.
For this reason, use only tires of the
same manufacture and tread configura-
tion. In the event of a flat tire, for exam-
ple, remount the approved wheel and
tire combination as soon as possible.<
StorageAlways store tires in a cool, dry place.
Store them away from light whenever
possible. Protect the tires against con-
tact with oil, grease and fuel.
Do not exceed the maximum tire infla-
tion pressures specified on the tire
sidewall.
Winter tiresChoosing the right tireBMW recommends the use of winter
tires for operation under winter road
conditions. While all-season tires – with
M+S designation – provide better winter
traction than the corresponding sum-
mer tires, they generally do not achieve
the performance of winter tires.
In the interest of safe tracking and
steering response, install winter tires
made by the same manufacturer and
with the same tread configuration on all
four wheels.
Never exceed the maximum
speed for which the winter tires
are rated.
Unprofessional attempts by laymen to
service tires can lead to damage and
accidents.
Have this work performed by trained
professionals only. Any BMW center
has the required technical knowledge
and the proper equipment and will be
happy to assist you.<Run Flat tiresBefore purchasing winter tires, check if
your BMW is eqipped with Run Flat
tires. These are indicated by a circular
symbol containing the letters RSC on

133
the tire sidewall, refer to Changing a
wheel. In this case, use only Run Flat
winter tires, since no spare tire is pro-
vided in the event of a flat tire.Tire condition, tire pressureAt tread depths below approx. 3/16 in /
4 mm, winter tires display a perceptible
decrease in their ability to cope with
winter driving conditions, and should be
replaced in the interest of safety.
Comply with the specified tire inflation
pressures — and be sure to have the
wheel and tire assembly balanced
every time you change a tire or wheel.Snow chains*Only certain snow chains have been
tested by BMW and determined and
approved as roadworthy. Consult any
BMW center for details. BMW recom-
mends using only these approved fine-
link snow chains. Use them in pairs on
either summer or winter tires, but only
on both rear wheels.
Comply with all manufacturer's safety
precautions when mounting the chains.
Do not exceed a speed of 30 mph /
50 km/h when using snow chains.You cannot mount snow chains with the
following tires:
225/50 R 16
225/45 R 17
225/40 R 18
245/40 R 17
255/35 R 18
Do not initialize the Flat Tire Moni-
tor after mounting snow chains to
the tires.
When driving with snow chains, it may
be useful to turn off the DSC for a short
time, refer to page 94.<Winter tires
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex

139
Adding engine oilOnly add engine oil when the oil level
has dropped to just above the lower
mark on the dipstick.
BMW engines are designed to
operate without oil additives; the
use of additives could lead to damage
in some cases. This also applies to the
manual transmission, the automatic
transmission, the differential, and the
power steering system.<
Recommendation: have the oil changed
at your BMW center.
Continuous exposure to used oil
has caused cancer in laboratory
testing. For this reason, any skin areas
that come into contact with oil should
be thoroughly washed with soap and
water.
Store oils, grease and similar materials
so that they are inaccessible to chil-
dren. Comply with warning labels and
information on containers.<
Comply with the applicable envi-
ronmental laws regulating the dis-
posal of used oil.<
Specified engine oilsThe quality of the engine oil is
extremely important for the operation
and service life of an engine. Based on
extensive testing, BMW has approved
only certain grades of engine oil.
Use only approved BMW High Perfor-
mance Synthetic Oil.
If an approved BMW High Performance
Synthetic Oil should be unavailable, you
may use small amounts of other syn-
thetic oils for topping up between oil
changes. Use only oils with the specifi-
cation API SH or higher.
Ask your BMW center for details
concerning the specific BMW
High Performance Synthetic Oil or syn-
thetic oils that have been approved.<
You can also call BMW of North Amer-
ica toll-free at 1-800-831-1117 or visit
this website: www.bmwusa.com to
obtain this information.
Viscosity ratingsViscosity is the oilflow rating as estab-
lished in SAE classes.
The selection of the correct SAE class
depends on the climatic conditions in
the area where you drive your BMW.
Approved oils are in SAE classes
5W-40 and 5W-30.<
These kinds of oil may be used for driv-
ing in all ambient temperatures.
Engine oil
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex

142Maintenance
The BMW Maintenance SystemThe BMW Maintenance System has
been designed as a reliable means of
providing maximum driving and operat-
ing safety – and as cost-effectively for
you as possible.
Please keep in mind that regular main-
tenance is not only necessary for the
safety of your vehicle, but also plays a
significant role in maintaining its resale
value.Service interval displayWhile conventional systems rely on
milage alone to determine when service
is due, the BMW Maintenance System
reflects the actual conditions under
which the vehicle is operated: some
miles are more strenuous than others.
From a maintenance point of view,
62,000 miles/100,000 km accumulated
in short-distance urban driving are not
the equivalent of the same distance
covered at moderate cruising speeds in
long-distance highway travel.
The BMW Maintenance System
includes the Engine Oil Service and
Inspections I and II.
This service strategy accurately reflects
your own vehicle's specific needs by
defining maintenance intervals accord-
ing to individual operating conditions.
Minimal use drivers – those who drive
significantly fewer than
6,200 miles/10,000 km annually –
should have the engine oil changed at
least every 2 years since oil deterio-
rates over time, regardless of use.Service and Warranty Information
Booklet for US models/Warranty
and Service Guide Booklet for
Canadian modelsFor additional information on required
maintenance intervals and procedures,
please refer to the Service and War-
ranty Information Booklet for US mod-
els, or the Warranty and Service Guide
Booklet for Canadian models.As a precaution against corrosion, if
your vehicle is exposed to potential
damage from unimproved road sur-
faces we suggest that you have the
body checked for damage from stone
chips and gravel at the same time.
Have your BMW center perform
maintenance and repair.
Be sure that all maintenance work is
recorded in the Service and Warranty
Information Booklet for US models, or
in the Warranty and Service Guide
Booklet for Canadian models. These
entries confirm that your vehicle has
benefitted from regular maintenance,
and are also required for warranty
claims.<
CareYou can find everything you need to
know on this topic by consulting the
separate Caring for your vehicle bro-
chure.

157
Driving with a damaged tireDepending on the cargo load, Run Flat
tires allow you to continue driving at a
maximum speed of 50 mph / 80 km/h. If
there is a total loss of tire inflation pres-
sure, 0 psi/0 kPa, or obvious tire dam-
age, you can determine the distance
you may continue driving based on the
following values:
>With a light load:
1 to 2 persons without luggage:
approx. 150 miles/250 km
>With a medium load:
2 persons, luggage compartment full;
or 4 persons without luggage:
approx. 100 miles/150 km
>With a full load:
4 persons, luggage compartment full:
approx. 30 miles/50 km.
Drive cautiously. Do not exceed a
speed of 45 mph / 80 km/h. Be
aware that vehicle handling will be
altered when there is a loss in inflation
pressure. Anticipate, e.g., reduced
tracking during braking, longer braking
distances and changed steering char-
acteristics.
For safety reasons, BMW recommends
not having damaged Run Flat tires
repaired. In this case, consult your
BMW center.<
BatteryMaintenanceThe battery is maintenance-free, that is,
the original electrolyte will normally last
for the service life of the battery under
moderate climatic conditions.
Please consult your BMW center
whenever you have any questions
concerning the battery.<Charging the batteryWhen charging the battery in the vehi-
cle, leave the engine off at all times.
Connect the charge cables to the termi-
nals in the engine compartment. For
terminal locations, refer to Jump-start-
ing on page 159.Disposal
Return used batteries to a recy-
cling point or your BMW center.
Maintain the battery in an upright posi-
tion for transport and storage. Secure
the battery against tilting during trans-
port.<
FusesYou will find the fuses and information
on their respective allocation in the
glove compartment behind a panel with
two snap clips.
Do not attempt to repair a blown
fuse or replace it with a fuse
having a different color or amperage
rating. To do this could cause a fire in
the vehicle resulting from a circuit over-
load.<
Run Flat tires*
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex

Everything from A to ZA
ABS Antilock Brake
System 125
indicator lamp 19
Acceleration assistant 78
Accessories, refer to For
your own safety 5
Accident, refer to Emer-
gency call 158
Activated-charcoal filter 110
Adaptive headlights 98
Adding brake fluid 141
Additional sources of infor-
mation 4
Air conditioning 102
Air conditioning mode 104
automatic climate
control 108
Air distribution
air conditioning 104
automatic climate
control 108
Air distribution,
individual 108
Air outlets, refer to Ventila-
tion 102, 106
Air pressure, refer to Tire
inflation pressure 25, 129
Air recirculation, refer to
Recirculated-air mode
104, 109Air supply
air conditioning 104
automatic climate
control 108
Air, drying, refer to Air con-
ditioning mode 104, 108
Airbags 61
deactivating 64
indicator lamp 18, 63
sitting safely 52
Airing out, refer to Ventila-
tion 102, 106
AKI, refer to Fuel specifica-
tions 25
Alarm system 38
avoiding unintentional
alarms 39
All-season tires, refer to
Winter tires 132
Antifreeze 140
coolant 140
washer fluid 138
Antilock Brake System
(ABS) 125
indicator lamp 19
Anti-theft system 30
Anti-theft warning system,
refer to Alarm system 38
Approved axle loads, refer
to Weights 168
Approved gross weight,
refer to Weights 168Armrest 114
Artificial leather, refer to the
Caring for your vehicle
brochure
Ashtray
front 115
rear 116
Assistant systems, refer to
Dynamic Stability Control
(DSC) 93
AUC Automatic recircu-
lated-air control 109
AUTO program, refer to
Automatic air
distribution 108
Automatic
air distribution 108
air supply 108
cruise control 84
headlamp control 97
Automatic car wash, refer to
the Caring for your vehicle
brochure
Automatic climate
control 106
Automatic curb monitor 58
Automatic dimming, interior
rearview mirror 60
Automatic recirculated-air
control (AUC) 109Automatic transmission with
Steptronic 79
indicator lamp 19, 81
interlock 71
selector lever lock 79
shiftlock 79
Automatic windshield
washer, refer to Rain sen-
sor 83
Average fuel
consumption 91
Average speed 91
Avoiding unintentional
alarms 39
Axle loads, refer to
Weights 168
B
Backrest
unlock 55
Backrest, refer to Seat
adjustment 53
Backup lamps 74
bulb replacement 151
Bandages, refer to First-aid
kit 23
Bar, towing 161