BMW 325CI 2006 Owners Manual

111
Overview
Controls and features
Operation, maintenance
Owner service procedures
Technical data
Index
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex

112Special operating instructions
Break-in proceduresTo ensure that your vehicle provides
maximum economy throughout a long
service life, we request that you comply
with the following information.Engine and differentialThe first 1,250 miles/2,000 km:
Drive at varying engine and road
speeds, but do not exceed an engine
speed of 4,500 rpm or a road speed of
100 mph / 160 km/h.
Always obey all official speed limits.
Do not use full throttle, and avoid
pressing the accelerator beyond the
kickdown point during these initial
miles.
You can then proceed to increase
engine or vehicle speeds once the ini-
tial 1,250 miles/2,000 km have elapsed.TiresDue to technical factors associated
with their manufacture, tires do not
achieve their full traction potential until
after an initial break-in period. We thus
ask you to drive with extra care during
the first 200 miles/300 km.
Always obey all official speed limits.When the vehicle is operated on
wet or slushy roads, a wedge of
water may form between the tire and
the road surface. This phenomenon is
referred to as hydroplaning and can
lead to partial or complete loss of trac-
tion, vehicle control and braking effec-
tiveness. Reduce your speed on wet
roads.<
Brake systemApprox. 300 miles/500 km must elapse
before the brake pads and rotors
achieve the optimal pad-surface and
wear patterns required for trouble-free
operation and an extended service life
later on.
To break in the separate parking brake
drums, apply the parking brake lightly
when coasting to a standstill – at a traf-
fic signal, for instance – provided that
traffic conditions allow you to do so.
To avoid corrosion, repeat this proce-
dure from time to time.ClutchApprox. 300 miles/500 km must elapse
before the clutch starts to operate at
optimum efficiency. Remember to
engage the clutch carefully during this
initial period.
After replacing partsFollow the same break-in procedures if
any of the components mentioned
above have to be replaced in the future.

113
General driving notesHot exhaust system
High temperatures occur with
every vehicle equipped with a cat-
alytic converter. Heat shields are
installed adjacent to some sections of
the exhaust system. Never remove
these shields; do not apply undercoat-
ing to their surfaces. When driving,
standing at idle and parking the vehicle,
take care to avoid contact between the
hot exhaust system and flammable
materials, e.g. hay, leaves, grass, etc.
Such contact could lead to a fire,
resulting in serious personal injury and
property damage.<
Parking the vehicleCondensation forms in the air condi-
tioner system during operation, which
then exits under the vehicle. Traces of
condensed water on the ground under-
neath the vehicle are thus normal.Before driving through a car washFold in the exterior mirrors manually
because they could otherwise be dam-
aged due to the width of the vehicle.
Hydroplaning
When driving on wet or slushy
roads, reduce your speed. If you
do not, a wedge of water may form
between tire and road surface. This
phenomenon is referred to as hydro-
planing, and can lead to partial or com-
plete loss of traction, vehicle control
and braking effectiveness.<
The risk of hydroplaning increases as
the tread depth of the tires decreases,
refer also to Tire tread on page 120.
Driving through water
Do not drive through water on the
road if it is deeper than 1 ft/30 cm,
and then only at walking speed. Other-
wise, the vehicle's engine, the electrical
systems and the transmission may be
damaged.<
Braking safelyYour BMW is equipped with ABS as a
standard feature. If you are in a situa-
tion which requires full braking, it is
best to brake using maximum brake
pressure: panic stop. Since the vehicle
maintains steering responsiveness, you
can avoid possible obstacles with a
minimum of steering effort, despite the
full brake application.
Pulsation at the brake pedal, combined
with sounds from the hydraulic circuits,
indicates to the driver that ABS is in its
active mode.
Do not drive with your foot resting
on the brake pedal. Otherwise,
even light but consistent pedal pres-
sure can lead to high temperatures,
brake wear and possibly even brake
failure.<
Wet roads:
if the roads are wet or if there is heavy
rain, it is advisable to gently press the
brakes for a brief moment every few
miles/kilometers. Monitor traffic condi-
tions to ensure that this maneuver does
not endanger other road users. The
heat generated in this process helps
dry the pads and rotors. Immediate
braking force is then available if neces-
sary.
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114
Inclines:
To prevent overheating and, as a
result, diminished braking effec-
tiveness, drive down long or steep
downhill grades in a gear which
requires the least braking. Otherwise,
even light but consistent pedal pres-
sure can lead to high temperatures,
brake wear and possibly even brake
failure.<
The braking power of the engine can be
further enhanced by downshifting the
automatic transmission in manual
mode, if necessary, into first gear. This
helps avoid placing excessive loads on
the brake system.
Do not coast with the clutch
depressed or with the transmis-
sion or selector lever in Neutral. Do not
coast with the engine switched off. Oth-
erwise, the engine provides no braking
effect while the transmission is in idling
position, and there is no power-assist
for braking or steering when the engine
is off.
Floor mats, floor carpets or other
objects must not be in the area near the
brake or accelerator pedal, as this
could impair the movement of the ped-
als.<
Corrosion on the brake rotorsLimited vehicle use, extended periods
with the vehicle parked or in storage,
and operating conditions in which brak-
ing is restricted to gentle, low-pressure
applications will all increase the ten-
dency for corrosion to form on the
rotors and contamination to accumulate
on the brake pads. This occurs because
the minimal pressure which must be
exerted by the pads to clean the rotors
by brake applications is not reached.
If the brake rotors are corroded, they
will tend to respond to braking with a
pulsating effect that even extended
brake applications will fail to cure.
Brake pads
For your own safety: use only
brake pads that BMW has
released for your particular vehicle
model. BMW cannot evaluate non-
approved brake pads to determine if
they are suitable for use, and therefore
cannot ensure the operating safety of
the vehicle if they are installed.<
Portable phone in the vehicle
BMW advises against using
mobile equipment, e.g. cellular
phones, inside the vehicle without con-
necting them directly to an outside
antenna. Otherwise, it cannot be ruled
out that vehicle electronics and the
mobile equipment interfere with one
another. In addition, it is not ensured
that the radio waves emitted during
transmission are directed outside of the
vehicle interior.<
General driving notes

115
Antilock Brake System (ABS)The conceptABS keeps the wheels from locking
during braking, thereby enhancing
active driving safety.Braking with ABSIf you are in a situation that requires full
braking, you will exploit the full benefits
of the ABS system if you apply maxi-
mum pedal pressure: panic stop. Since
the vehicle maintains steering respon-
siveness, you can avoid possible obsta-
cles with a minimum of steering effort,
despite the full brake application.
Pulsation at the brake pedal combined
with sounds from the hydraulic circuits
indicates to the driver that ABS is in its
active mode.Dynamic Brake Control (DBC)DBC is included in the DSC, refer to
page 81.
The system responds to sudden, high-
intensity applications of force to the
brake pedal by automatically braking
the vehicle with maximum boost to
achieve the shortest-possible braking
distances during 'panic stops'. This
system exploits all the benefits of ABS.Do not reduce the pressure exerted
against the brake pedal until the brak-
ing maneuver has been completed.
DBC is deactivated when you release
the brake pedal.
Cornering Brake Control (CBC)CBC is an advanced engineering devel-
opment of ABS. When braking during
cornering with high lateral accelera-
tion, or when braking during a lane
change, vehicle stability is improved
and the steering response is enhanced.
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116Wheels and tires
Tire inflation pressureInformation for your safetyIt is not merely the tire's service life, but
also driving safety and driving comfort
that greatly depend on the condition of
the tires and the maintenance of the
specified tire inflation pressure.
Check tire inflation pressures on a
regular basis and correct them, if
necessary, including the compact
wheel: at least twice a month and
before beginning a longer trip. If this is
not done, incorrect tire pressures can
cause driving instability and tire dam-
age, ultimately resulting in accidents.
Do not drive with a pressureless, i.e.
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.<Checking tire pressuresOnly check the tire inflation pressures
of cold tires. This means after driving a
maximum of 1.25 miles/2 km or after
the vehicle has been parked for at least
2 hours. Warm tires have higher infla-
tion pressures.
After correcting the tire inflation pres-
sure, reinitialize the Flat Tire Monitor,
refer to page 82.
Inflation pressures for original
tiresTire pressures for the standard tires of
your vehicle are shown on the driver's
door post, visible when the door is
open.
The inflation pressures apply to BMW-
approved tire sizes and recommended
tire brands. Your BMW center will be
glad to supply this information.Inflation pressures for other tire
sizesThe following tire pressure table shows
all tire pressures for the given tire sizes
at ambient temperature.

117
BMW Tires
All pressure specifications in the table are indicated
in psi/kilopascal with cold tires –
cold = ambient temperature
325Ci 205/55 R 16 91 H M+S
205/55 R 16 91 H
225/50 R 16 92 W
225/45 R 17 91 W30/210 35/240 35/240 42/290
225/45 ZR 17
245/40 ZR 1730/210
––
35/24035/240
––
42/290
205/50 R 17 93 V M+S extra load
205/50 R 17 93 W extra load
205/55 R 16 91 Q M+S
225/50 R 16 92 Q M+S
205/50 R 17 93 Q M+S extra load
225/45 R 17 91 Q M+S33/230 38/260 38/260 45/310
330Ci 225/45 R 17 91 W 32/220 38/260 39/270 46/320
225/45 ZR 17
245/40 ZR 1732/220
––
38/26039/270
––
46/320
225/40 ZR 18
255/35 ZR 1832/220
––
38/26039/270
––
46/320
205/50 R 17 93 V M+S extra load
205/50 R 17 93 W extra load
205/50 R 17 93 Q M+S extra load
225/45 R 17 91 Q M+S32/220 38/260 39/270 46/320
All Space-saver spare tire 61/420Tire inflation pressure
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118
Tire codeKnowing the tire code on the tire side-
wall makes it easier to correctly choose
and identify your tires.Tire sizeE.g. 205/60 R 15 91 W
205 = Nominal width in mm
60 = Cross-sectional ratio in %
R = Radial belt construction
15 = Rim diameter in inches
91 = Load index, not on ZR tires
W = Speed rating, in front of the R on
ZR tiresSpeed ratingQ = up to 100 mph (160 km/h)
T = up to 118 mph (190 km/h)
H = up to 130 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/h)Tire Identification NumberTires with DOT codes comply with the
guidelines of the U.S. Department of
Transportation.DOT code:
E.g. DOT xxxx xxx 1004
xxxx = Manufacturer's code for tire
brand
xxx = Tire size and tire version
1004 = Tire age
Tire ageThe date on which the tire was manu-
factured is indicated by the code on the
sidewall:
DOT … 1004 indicates that the tire was
manufactured in week 10 of the year
2004.
BMW recommends the replacement of
all tires when they are no more than
6 years old, even if a tire life of 10 years
is possible.Uniform Tire Quality GradingQuality grades can be found where
applicable on the tire sidewall between
tread shoulder and maximum section
width. For example:
Tread wear 200 Traction AA
Temperature ADOT quality gradesTread wearTraction 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.

119
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.
Sustained high temperature can cause
the material of the tire to degenerate
and reduce tire life, and excessive tem-
perature 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.
The temperature grade for this tire
is established for a tire that is
properly inflated and not overloaded.
Excessive speed, underinflation, or
excessive loading, either separately or
in combination, can cause heat buildup
and possible tire failure.<RSC - Run Flat tiresRun Flat tires are labeled on the side-
wall with a circular symbol containing
the letters RSC, refer to page 120.M+SWinter and all-season tires. These have
better winter driving properties than
summer tires.
Tire conditionWheel/tire damageInspect your tires frequently for signs of
damage, foreign objects and tread
wear, and check tread depth.
Due to low-profile tires, please
note that wheels, tires and sus-
pension parts are more susceptible to
road hazard and consequential dam-
ages.
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 immedi-
ately reducing your speed. Proceed
carefully to the nearest BMW center or
professional tire center, or have the
vehicle towed there. Tire damage, up to
and including blowouts, can endanger
the lives of both the vehicle occupants
and other road users.<
Tire code
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120
Tire treadTread depth should not be allowed to
go below 1/8 in/3 mm, even though
European legislation, for example,
requires a mimimum tread depth of only
1/16 in/1.6 mm. Below 1/8 in/3 mm
tread depth, there is a great risk of
hydroplaning, even at relatively moder-
ate speeds and with only small amounts
of water on the road.
At tread depths below approx.
3/16 in/4 mm, tire performance under
winter driving conditions deteriorates
noticeably. Worn tires should therefore
be replaced for safety considerations.
Tread wear indicators in the tread-
groove base, see arrow, are distributed
around the wheel circumference and
are labeled on the tire sidewall with
TWI, Tread Wear Indicator. At a tread
depth of 1/16 in/1.6 mm, the indicators
signal that the legally permissible wear
limit has been reached.
Run Flat tires*Run Flat tires are labeled on the side-
wall with a circular symbol containing
the letters RSC.
Run Flat tires consist of self-supporting
tires and special rims. The tire rein-
forcement ensures that driving remains
possible to a restricted degree in the
event of pressure drop or even if the tire
is deflated.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.
Tire condition