BMW 525I 2005 Owners Manual

Wheels and tires
170
Wheels and tires
Tire inflation pressure
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 the condition of the tires
and the maintenance of the specified tire pres-
sure.
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 increases.
Check the tire inflation pressure regularly
and correct it as needed, even on the
compact tire: at least twice a month and before
starting long trips. If you fail to observe this pre-
caution you may be driving on tires with incor-
rect tire pressures, a condition that can not only
compromise your vehicle's driving stability, but
also lead to tire damage and the risk of an acci-
dent. Do not drive with deflated, i.e. flat tires,
except 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.<
After correcting the inflation pressure(s),
always reinitialize the Flat Tire Monitor,
refer to page80.<
Pressure specifications for factory-
installed tires
The inflation pressures for your standard tires at
ambient temperature can be found on the door
post when you open the driver's door.
Pressure specifications for other tire
sizes
The tables below provide all the correct inflation
pressures for the specified tire sizes at ambient
temperature.
For correct identification of the right tire
inflation pressure for your tires, observe
the specifications for the corresponding tire
size.<
Tire size
The inflation pressures apply to the tire sizes
approved and tire brands recommended by
BMW; a list of these is available from your BMW
center.

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525i/530i
Tire size Pressure specifications in psi/kPa
All pressure specifications in
the table are indicated in psi/
kilopascal with cold tires.
Cold = ambient temperature
225/50 R 17 94 V M+S
225/50 R 17 94 W
245/40 R 18 93 W
225/55 R 16 95 Q,T,H M+S
225/50 R 17 94 Q,T,H M+S
525i only:
225/55 R 16 95 V M+S
225/55 R 16 95 V 29/200 35/240 36/250 44/300
245/45 R 17 95 W
245/45 R 17 95 Q,T,H,V M+S29/200 32/220 33/230 41/280
Front: 245/40 R 18 93 W 29/200 - 36/250 -
Rear: 275/35 R 18 95 W - 32/220 - 41/280
Front: 245/35 R 19 89 Y 29/200 - 33/230 -
Rear: 275/30 R 19 92 Y - 32/220 - 41/280
Compact wheel:
T 135/80 R 17 102 M61/420
More details on the permissible load and weights can be found on page198.

Wheels and tires
172
545i
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 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/h
Tire Identification Number
Tires with DOT codes meet the guidelines of
the U.S. Department of Transport.
DOT code:
Tire age
The manufacturing date of tires is contained in
the tire coding: DOT … 3604 means that the
tire was produced in the 36th week of 2004.
BMW recommends that you replace all tires
after 6 years at most, even if some tires may last
for 10 years.
Tire size Pressure specifications in psi/kPa
All pressure specifications in
the table are indicated in psi/
kilopascal with cold tires.
Cold = ambient temperature
225/50 R 17 94 V M+S
225/50 R 17 94 W
245/40 R 18 93 Y
225/50 R 17 94 Q,T,H M+S32/220 38/260 38/260 45/310
245/45 R 17 95 W
245/45 R 17 95 Q,T,H,V M+S29/200 35/240 35/240 42/290
Front: 245/40 R 18 93 Y 32/220 - 38/260 -
Rear: 275/35 R 18 95 Y - 35/240 - 42/290
Front: 245/35 R 19 89 Y 32/220 - 38/260 -
Rear: 275/30 R 19 92 Y - 35/240 - 42/290
Compact wheel:
T 135/80 R 17 102 M61/420
More details on the permitted load and weights can be found on page198.
e.g.
Nominal width in mm
Aspect ratio in Ξ
Belted construction – radial
Rim diameter in inches
Carrying capacity ID-code
(not in ZR tires)
Speed code letter
(in ZR tires before the R)205/60 R1591 W
e.g.
Manufacturer code
for tire make
Tire size and tire design
Tire ageDOT xxxx xxx 3604

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Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Quality 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 A
DOT Quality Grades
Tread wear
Traction AA A B C
Temperature A B C
All passenger car tires must conform to
Federal Safety Requirements 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 conditions on a specified gov-
ernment test course. For example, a tire graded
150 would wear one and one-half, 1γ, 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, 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.
Those grades represent the tire's ability to stop
on wet pavement as measured under controlled
conditions on specified government test sur-
faces 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, cor-
nering, hydroplaning, or peak traction charac-
teristics.<
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.
Sustained 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 Vehi-
cle 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 sep-
arately or in combination, can cause heat
buildup and possible tire failure.<
RSC – run-flat tires
You will recognize run-flat tires by a circular
symbol containing the letters RSC on the side
of the tire, refer to page174.
M+S
Winter and all-season tires.
These have better winter properties than sum-
mer tires.
Tire condition
Inspect your tires frequently for tread wear,
signs of damage and for foreign objects lodged
in the tread. Check the tread depth.
Minimum tread depth
The tread depth should not drop below 0.12 in/
3 mm, although, for example, European legisla-
tion only specifies a minimum tread depth of
0.063 in/1.6 mm. At tread depths below 0.12 in/
3 mm there is an increased risk of high-speed
hydroplaning, even when only small amounts of
water are present on the road surface.
When winter tires wear down past a tread depth
of 0.16 in/4 mm, they become perceptibly less
suitable for winter conditions. For the sake of
safety, new tires should be installed.

Wheels and tires
174 Wear indicators at the tread-groove base, refer
to arrow, are distributed over the tire's circum-
ference and are marked on the side of the tire
with TWI – Tread Wear Indicator. If the indica-
tors are at the level of the tread, the legally per-
missible tread depth of 0.063 in/1,6 mm has
been reached.
Wheel/tire damage
Please note that low-profile tires cause wheels,
tires and suspension parts to be more suscep-
tible to road hazard and consequential dam-
ages. Unusual vibrations encountered during
normal vehicle operation can indicate tire failure
or some other vehicle defect. This can, for
example, be caused by driving over curbs.
These kinds of problems may also be signaled
by other changes in vehicle response, such as a
strong tendency to pull to the left or right.
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 shop that works
according to BMW repair procedures with cor-
respondingly trained personnel. If necessary,
have the vehicle towed there. Tire damage can
be extremely dangerous for vehicle occupants
and other road users.<
Servicing tires
Unprofessional attempts by laymen to
service tires can lead to damage and acci-
dents. Have this work performed by skilled pro-
fessionals only. The technicians at your BMW
center will be glad to assist you with the
required professional knowledge and special-
ized equipment.<
Run-flat tires*
You will recognize run-flat tires by a circular
symbol containing the letters RSC on the side
of the tire.
Run-flat tires consist of self-contained tires and
special rims. The tire reinforcement ensures
that the tire retains some residual safety in the
event of pressure drop and driving remains pos-
sible to a restricted degree.
New wheels and tires
Have new wheels and tires installed only
by your BMW center or tire shop that
works according to BMW repair procedures
with correspondingly trained personnel. If this
work is not carried out properly, there is a dan-
ger of subsequent damage and related safety
hazards.<
Retreaded tires
BMW does not recommend that you use
retreaded tires, since driving safety may
be impaired. The causes for this include the
possibly different tire casing structures and the
often wide variations in their age, which can
result in a limited service life.<
The right wheels and tires
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 official size ratings could
actually have different dimensions than the

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approved units – these differences could lead to
body contact, and with it the risk of severe acci-
dents. If non-approved wheels and tires are
used, BMW cannot evaluate their suitability,
and therefore cannot be held liable for driving
safety.<
You can inquire about the right wheel/tire com-
bination at your BMW center.
The correct combination of wheels and tires is
another vital factor in ensuring reliable opera-
tion of various vehicle systems such as ABS
and DSC.
To maintain good handling and vehicle
response, use only tires of a single tread config-
uration from a single manufacturer. After a flat
tire, have the original wheel and tire combina-
tion remounted on the vehicle as soon as possi-
ble.
Recommended tire brands
BMW tests certain tire brands for each tire size,
classifies them as road-safe and approves
them. Consult your BMW center for more infor-
mation.
Observe any country-specific regulations, e.g.
on making a corresponding entry in the vehicle
documents.
The factory-mounted tires have been specially
selected to provide optimized performance
when installed on yo ur vehicle; if pro perly cared
for, they will provide a combination of safety and
excellent ride comfort.
Run-flat tires
When mounting new tires or changing from
summer tires to winter tires or vice versa, use
run-flat tires because there is no spare tire in
case of a flat. Your BMW center will be glad to
advise you.
For safety reasons, BMW recommends
that you do not have damaged run-flat
tires repaired; they should be replaced.<
Special characteristics of winter tires
BMW recommends winter tires for use in cold
winter driving conditions. Although all-season
M+S tires provide better winter traction than
summer tires, they generally fail to provide the
same levels of cold-weather performance as
winter tires.
Pay attention to speed
Do not exceed the maximum permissible
speed for the winter tires, otherwise tire
damage may occur, which can result in acci-
dents.<
Storage
Always store 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 pressure indicated on the side wall
of the tire.
Snow chains*
BMW only tests certain fine-link snow chains,
classifies them as road-safe and approves
them. Consult your BMW center for more infor-
mation. BMW recommends using these
approved, fine-link snow chains.
Use is only permitted in pairs, with winter tires
on the rear wheels.
Observe the manufacturer's instructions when
mounting snow chains. Do not exceed a speed
of 30 mph/50 km/h with the chains mounted.
After snow chains are mounted, do not
initialize the Flat Tire Monitor.
When driving with snow chains, it can be useful
to activate the DTC temporarily, refer to
page78.<

Under the hood
176
Under the hood
Never attempt to perform any service or
repair operations on your vehicle without
the required, professional technical training. If
you do not know what repair procedures to fol-
low, have work on your vehicle done only by
your BMW center or a workshop that works
according to BMW repair procedures with cor-
respondingly trained personnel. If this work is
not carried out properly, there is a danger of
subsequent damage and related safety haz-
ards.<
Hood
Releasing
Pull the lever located under the left side of the
instrument cluster.
Opening
Press the release handle and open the hood.
Closing
Close the hood from a height of approx. 16 in/
40 cm with momentum. It must be clearly heard
to engage.
Make sure that the closing path of the
hood is clear, as otherwise injuries may
result.
If you see any signs that the hood is not com-
pletely closed while driving your vehicle, you
should stop at once and close it securely.<

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Engine compartment
1Filler neck for engine oil, refer to Adding
engine oil
2Brake fluid reservoir, located beneath the
microfilter cover
3Starting-aid terminal, refer to page1904Dipstick for engine oil, refer to Checking oil
level. The dipstick is further toward the rear
on the 545i
5Washer fluid reservoir of the headlamp and
windshield cleaning systems, refer to
page58
6Expansion tank for coolant, refer to
page178
Engine oil
The engine oil consumption is dependent on
driving style and driving conditions.
Checking oil level
1.With the engine at operating temperature,
i.e. after at least 6 miles/10 km of uninter-
rupted driving, park the vehicle in a horizon-
tal position.
2.Switch off the engine.
3.After approx. 5 minutes, pull out the dip-
stick 4 and wipe it off with a clean lint-free
cloth, paper towel, or similar material.
4.Carefully push the dipstick all the way into
the guide tube and pull it out again.The oil should extend to between the two
marks on the dipstick.
The oil quantity between the middle of the two
marks on the dipstick is approx. 1.6 US quarts/
1.5 liters.

Under the hood
178 Do not exceed the upper marking on the
dipstick, otherwise an overfilling of oil can
damage the engine.<
Adding engine oil
Do not top off the oil until the oil level has
dropped to just above the lower marking on the
dipstick. In this area a message also appears on
the Control Display.
Refill the oil within the next 125 miles/
200 km, otherwise engine damage could
result.<
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 oil, grease, etc., well out of the reach of
children; always observe all warning labels on
the containers.<
Oil change
Have oil changed only at your BMW center or
at a workshop that works according to BMW
repair procedures with correspondingly trained
personnel.
Specified engine oils
The quality of the engine oil selected has critical
significance for the operation and service life of
an engine. BMW continuously approves spe-
cific oils after confirming their suitability for use
in its vehicles with extensive testing.
Use only approved BMW High Performance
Synthetic Oil.
If you are unable to obtain BMW High Perfor-
mance Synthetic Oil, you can add small amounts of another synthetic oil between oil
changes. Use only oils with the API SH specifi-
cation or higher.
Ask your BMW center for details concern-
ing the specific BMW High Performance
Synthetic Oil or synthetic oils which have been
approved.<
You can also call BMW of North America at
1-800-831-1117 or visit this website:
www.bmwusa.com to obtain this information.
Viscosity ratings
Viscosity is the oil flow rating as defined in
SAE classes.
The selection of the correct SAE class depends
on the climatic conditions in the area where you
typically drive your BMW.
Approved oils are in SAE classes 5W-40
and 5W-30.<
These oils may be used for driving in all ambient
temperatures.
Coolant
Do not add coolant to the cooling system
when the engine is hot. Escaping coolant
can cause burns.<
Coolant consists of water and the addition of
antifreeze and anticorrosion agent. Not all com-
mercially available additives are suitable for
your BMW. Ask your BMW center for suitable
additives.
Only use suitable additives, as otherwise
engine damage may result. The additives
present a health hazard; observe the instruc-
tions on the containers.<
Comply with the appropriate environ-
mental protection regulations when dis-
posing of coolant additives.<
Checking coolant level
1.The engine must be at ambient tempera-
ture.
2.Turn the cap of the expansion tank counter-
clockwise to allow any accumulated pres-

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sure to escape, then continue turning to
open.
3.The coolant level is correct when the cool-
ant level is between the MIN and MAX
marks, refer to the diagram adjacent to the
filler neck.
4.If the coolant is low, slowly add coolant up to
the specified level – do not overfill.
5.Turn the cap until there is an audible click.
6.Have the reason for the coolant loss elimi-
nated as soon as possible.
Brake system
Malfunctions
Brake fluid
The warning lamp lights up in spite of
the handbrake being released; a mes-
sage appears on the Control Display:
Stop immediately.
The brake fluid in the reservoir has fallen to
below the minimum level. At the same time, a
considerably longer brake pedal travel may be
noticeable. Have the system thoroughly
checked.
Display of the previously described
malfunction on Canadian models.
When you continue driving, an increased
brake pedal path can be necessary, and
significantly longer braking distances might be
required. Please adapt your driving style
accordingly.<
Brake pads
The warning lamp lights up in spite of
the handbrake being released; a mes-
sage appears on the Control Display:
The brake pads have reached their minimum
pad thickness. Have brake pads replaced
immediately.
Display of the previously described
malfunction on Canadian models.
For your own safety: use only brake pads
that BMW has approved for the corre-
sponding vehicle model. As BMW cannot
assess the suitability of other brake pads for
use on your vehicle, we are unable to assume
continued responsibility for the vehicle's oper-
ating safety if non-approved pads are
installed.<