BMW 745LI SEDAN 2002 Owners Manual

Wheels and tires
170
Wheels and tiresTire inflation pressure Information for your safety The factory-mounted radial tires have been
specially selected to provide optimal
performance when installed on your
vehicle; if properly cared for they will
furnish a combination of tremendous safety
and excellent ride comfort.
It is not merely the tire's service life, but
also driving comfort and Ð above all else Ð
driving safety that depend on the condition
of the tires and the maintenance of the
specified tire pressure.
Incorrect inflation pressure is a frequent
cause of tire damage. Tire inflation pres-
sures also have a substantial effect on your
BMW's handling response.
Check tire inflation pressures regu-
larly Ð at least every two weeks and
before beginning a longer trip. If you fail to
observe this precaution you may be driving
on tires with incorrect tire pressures, a
condition that can not only compromise
your vehicle's stability, but also lead to tire
damage and the risk of an accident.
Remember to check the inflation pressure
in your spare tire. Inflate the spare tire to
the highest pressure specified for any tire
on the vehicle.<
The inflation pressures, provided on a label
affixed to the B-pillar, are visible when the
driver's door is open.
To check tire pressures The table on the next page provides the
correct inflation pressures for cool
(ambient temperature) tires in psi/kilo-
pascal.
Vehicles with RDC Tire Pressure Monitor:
Remember to reactivate the system after
correcting your tire pressures, refer to
page 92. Comply with tire approval
specificationsThe inflation pressures in the table apply to
tire sizes and tires from BMW-approved
manufacturers. Your BMW center is familiar
with these pressures. Higher pressures
may be specified for tires from other manu-
facturers.

At a glanceControlsDriving tipsCommunicationsNavigationEntertainmentMobilityReference
171
BMW 745i, 745LiTire condition Tire tread Ð 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 0.126 in (3 mm), even though the
legally specified minimum tread depth is
only 0.063 in (1.6 mm). The locations of the
tread wear indicators are indicated by the
letters TWI at various points on the side of
the tire; when the tread wears to a depth of
0.063 in (1.6 mm), the wear indicators
appear to warn you that the tread has worn
to the minimum legal level. At tread depths
below 0.126 in (3 mm) there is an increased
risk of aquaplaning, even when only small
amounts of water are present on the road
surface. Never attempt to continue driving on
a flat tire. Because a flat tire will seri-
ously impair your vehicle's handling and
braking response, attempts to drive on a
flat tire can lead to loss of control over the
vehicle.
To avoid loading the tires beyond their
approved carrying capacity, never overload
the vehicle. Overloading can lead to over-
heating and increases the rate at which
damage develops inside the tires. The ulti-
mate result can assume the form of a
sudden air loss.
Unusual vibrations during vehicle opera-
tion, of the kind that can be caused by
contact with curbs, etc., may indicate that
a wheel, tire or other vehicle component is
damaged. These kinds of problems may
also be signalled by other changes in
vehicle response, such as a strong
tendency to pull to the left or right. Should
this occur, respond by immediately
reducing your speed. Carefully proceed or
have your vehicle towed to the nearest
BMW center or tire dealer to have the
wheels and tires inspected.
Tire damage, extending to sudden and
complete loss of pressure in extreme
cases, can pose a potentially lethal safety
hazard for the vehicle's occupants and
other road users alike.< Tire specifications
Pressure specifications in
psi/kPa
245/55 R 17, including M+S
245/50 R 18, including M+S 32/220 35/240 35/240 42/290
Front: 245/45 R 19 32/220 Ð 35/240 Ð
Rear: 275/40 R 19 - 35/240 Ð 42/290
Front: 245/40 R 20 32/220 Ð 35/240 Ð
Rear: 275/35 R 20 Ð 35/240 Ð 42/290

Wheels and tires
172
Tire replacement To maintain good handling and vehicle
response, use only tires of a single tread
configuration from a single manufacturer.
BMW tests and approves specific wheel
and tire combinations. DOT Quality Grades Treadwear
Traction AA A B C
Temperature A B C
All passenger car tires must conform
to Federal Safety Requirements in
addition to these grades.< TreadwearThe treadwear grade is a comparative
rating based on the wear rate of the tire
when tested under controlled conditions
on a specified government test course.
For example, a tire graded 150 would wear
one and one-half (1g) 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,
however, and may depart significantly from
the norm due to variations in driving habits,
service practices and differences in road
characteristics 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 specified govern-
ment 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 characteristics.< 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 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 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 combina-
tion, can cause heat buildup and possible
tire failure.<
Uniform Tire Quality Grading Quality grades can be found where appli-
cable on the tire sidewall between tread
shoulder and maximum section width. For
example:
Treadwear 200 Traction AA
Temperature A
Do not use retreaded tires, since
driving safety may be impaired.
Possible variations in the design and the
age (which could be substantial) of the
carcasses can lead to unusually rapid
wear.< Tire age The tire's date of manufacture is indicated
on the sidewall:
DOT ... 4901 indicates that a tire was
manufactured in week 49 of the year 2001.
Regardless of milage or wear, BMW
recommends that you replace all tires Ð
including the spare tire Ð after a maximum
of 6 years, even though the tires may have
a theoretical service life of up to 10 years.

At a glanceControlsDriving tipsCommunicationsNavigationEntertainmentMobilityReference
173
Wheel and tire
combinationsThe right choice
Use only wheel and tire combinations
that BMW has approved for your
particular vehicle. Variations in factors such
as manufacturing tolerances mean that
even wheels and tires with identical official
size ratings could actually have different
dimensions than the approved units. These
differences could lead to body contact, and
with it the risk of severe accidents . If non-
approved wheels and tires are used, BMW
cannot evaluate their suitability, and there-
fore cannot be held liable for driving
safety.<
BMW tests certain tire brands for each tire
size, classifies them as road-safe and
approves them. Consult your BMW center
for more information. Observe any country-
specific regulations, e.g. on making a
corresponding entry in the vehicle
documents.
The correct combination of wheels
and tires is a vital factor in ensuring
reliable operation of various vehicle
systems such as ABS and DSC.
It is therefore important to ensure that tires
from a single manufacturer with a single
tread configuration are always mounted on
all vehicle wheels. After a flat tire, always
remember to have the specified wheel and
tire combination remounted on the vehicle
as soon as possible.<
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.
Special characteristics of
winter tires Choosing the right tire BMW recommends winter tires Ð M+S
radial tires for use in cold winter driving
conditions. Although all-season M+S tires
provide better winter traction than standard
summer tires with H, V, W and ZR speed
ratings, they generally fail to provide the
same levels of cold-weather performance
as winter tires.
When mounting, always install winter tires
of a single tread configuration and from a
single manufacturer on all four wheels to
ensure safe tracking and secure steering
response. Observe speed ratings
Never exceed the maximum speed for
which the tires are rated.
Unprofessional attempts by laymen to
service tires can lead to damage and acci-
dents.
Have this work performed by skilled
professionals only. The technicians at your
BMW center will be glad to assist you with
the required professional knowledge and
specialized equipment.<
Tire condition, tire pressure Because winter tires display a noticeable
loss in their ability to cope with cold-
weather driving conditions once the tread
wears to below 0.16 in (4 mm), to ensure
continued safety you should always have
such tires replaced.
Always maintain the specified inflation
pressures in all tires, and remember to
have the wheel and tire assemblies
balanced every time either a wheel or a tire
is replaced. Snow chains*

BMW narrow-link snow chains
are
approved exclusively for use in pairs on
the rear wheels, and should only be

Wheels and tires
174 mounted on rear tires with the dimensions
245/50 R 18. Observe the manufacturer's
instructions when installing snow chains.
Do not exceed a vehicle speed of 30 mph
(50 km/h) with the chains mounted.

At a glanceControlsDriving tipsCommunicationsNavigationEntertainmentMobilityReference
175
Under the hood Hood To release Pull the lever located under the left side of
the instrument panel.
Never attempt to perform any service
or repair operations on your vehicle
without the required, professional technical
training. When you are unfamiliar with the
service procedures and precautions,
always have any required work carried out
at your BMW center. Unprofessional
attempts at service and repair, and the
incorrect handling of parts and materials
that can occur during such attempts,
constitute a potential safety hazard, both
for the vehicle's occupants and for other
road users.< To open Pull the release handle and open the hood.
To close Allow the hood to fall from a height of
approx. 12 in (30 cm), ensuring that you
hear the detent engage securely.
Observe the same precautions that
apply to all closing operations by
ensuring that the hood's travel range is
clear and unobstructed before allowing the
hood to fall into position.
If you see any signs that the hood is not
completely closed while driving your
vehicle, you should stop at once and close
it securely.<

Under the hood
176
Engine compartment 1Engine oil dipstick, refer to next column
2Brake fluid reservoir, located beneath
the microfilter cover178
3Reservoir for windshield and headlamp
washer system73
4Engine oil filler neck177
5Coolant expansion tank178
6Jump-starting terminal187 Engine oilChecking oil level1.Park the vehicle on a level surface
2.Switch the engine off after it has
reached normal operating temperature 3.After approx. 5 minutes, pull the dipstick
out 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
5.The oil should extend to between the
two marks on the disptick
As is the case with fuel economy, the rate
at which the engine uses oil is strongly
influenced by driving style and operating
conditions.
The space between the two marks on
the dipstick corresponds to approx.
1.1 US quarts (1 litre). Do not fill beyond
the upper mark on the dipstick. Excess oil
can damage the engine.

At a glanceControlsDriving tipsCommunicationsNavigationEntertainmentMobilityReference
177
Adding engine oil Wait until the level has dropped to just
above the lower mark before adding oil.
BMW engines are designed to
operate without additives, and their
use could even lead to damage in some
cases. This also applies to the automatic
transmission, the differential and the power
steering system.<
Recommendation: have your 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.
Always store oil, grease, etc., well out of
the reach of children; always observe all
warning labels on the containers.<
Please observe all environmental-
protection rules and regulations when
disposing of used oil.< Specified engine oils The quality of the engine oil selected has
critical significance for the operation and
service life of an engine. BMW approves
only specific oils after confirming their suit-
ability for use in its vehicles with extensive
testing.
Use only approved BMW High Perfor-
mance Synthetic Oil.
If you are unable to obtain BMW High
Performance Synthetic Oil, you can add
small amounts of another synthetic oil
between oil changes. Use only oils with the
API SH specification or higher. Ask your BMW center for details
concerning 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 informa-
tion.
Viscosity ratingsViscosity 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.
To avoid the possibility of damage later on,
never use anything other than factory-
approved, nitrite and amino-free extended-
duty antifreeze with corrosion inhibitor.
Your BMW center is familiar with the official
specifications.
Antifreeze and anticorrosion agents are
hazardous to health. Always store these
agents in tightly-closed original containers
kept well away from the reach of children.
Extended-duty antifreeze with corrosion
inhibitor contains ethylene glycol Ð a flam-
mable substance. For this reason, do not
spill antifreeze with corrosion inhibitor on
hot engine parts. It could ignite and cause
serious burns.<
Always observe all applicable rules
and regulations for environmental
protection when disposing of used
extended-duty antifreeze with corrosion
inhibitor.<

Under the hood
178
Checking coolant level Correct coolant level with the engine cold Ð
approx. 58 7 (20 6):
1.Turn the cap of the expansion tank
counterclockwise to allow any accumu-
lated pressure to escape, then continue
turning to open
2.The coolant level is correct when the
coolant extends to between the MIN and
MAX marks on the filler neck, refer to the
diagram adjacent to the filler neck
3.If the coolant is low, slowly add coolant
up to the specified level Ð do not overfill. Brake fluid
The symbol lights up and a
message appears in the Check
Control panel:
The brake fluid in the reservoir has fallen to
below the minimum level.
The brake fluid reservoir is located under
the microfilter housing trim panel on the
driver's side of the vehicle. To have brake
fluid added to the system, or to have the
source of any brake fluid loss traced and
rectified, please contact your BMW center,
which can also supply the factory-
approved DOT 4 brake fluids.
Brake fluid is hygroscopic: it absorbs
moisture from the atmosphere over
the course of time.
To ensure that the brake system continues
to provide safe and reliable performance,
remember to have the brake fluid changed
every two years at the latest, refer to
page 79 and to the Service and Warranty
Information Booklet (US models) or the Warranty and Service Guide Booklet
(Canadian models).
Brake fluid is toxic and also damages
vehicle paintwork. Always store brake fluid
in tightly-closed original containers kept
well away from the reach of children.
Do not spill the fluid and do not refill the
brake fluid reservoir to beyond the MAX
mark. Should it come into contact with hot
engine components, the brake fluid could
ignite and cause personal injury in the form
of burns.<
Always observe all applicable envi-
ronmental rules and regulations when
disposing of used brake fluid.<
A low brake-fluid level combined with
longer-than-usual pedal travel could be a
sign that one of the brake system's
hydraulic circuits has failed.
Proceed to the nearest BMW center.
Remember that pedal travel may be
increased, and there may also be a
substantial increase in the amount of pedal
pressure required to brake the vehicle.
Please adapt your driving style accord-
ingly.<
Warning lamp for Canadian models

At a glanceControlsDriving tipsCommunicationsNavigationEntertainmentMobilityReference
179
Maintenance The BMW Maintenance
System The BMW Maintenance System is
designed to ensure that your vehicle will
continue to furnish consistent reliability
combined with optimal safety. The service
schedule also includes operations related
to the vehicle's comfort and convenience
features, such as replacement of the filters
for the inside air. The ultimate objective is
to furnish economical maintenance by
providing the ideal service for your indi-
vidual vehicle.
Should the day come when you decide to
sell your BMW, you will find that a complete
dealer service history is an asset of great
value. CBS Condition Based Service CBS is a more advanced version of the
Service Interval Display. Sensors combine
with highly-specialized algorithms to
supply service information that reflects
your vehicle's actual operating conditions
more precisely than ever before.
The system now furnishes individual
displays of the times remaining until the
deadlines for specific service operations as
well as official state inspections:
>Engine oil
>Brakes Ð separate for front and rear
>Microfilter/activated-charcoal filter
>Brake fluid >Coolant
>Spark plugs
>Vehicle check
>Official state inspections
CBS monitors both current and upcoming
service requirements. After accessing the
data stored in the vehicle's key, your BMW
service advisor is able to suggest precisely
the right array of service procedures for
your own individual vehicle.
By letting you define a service and mainte-
nance regimen that reflects your own indi-
vidual requirements, Condition Based
Service builds the basis for troublefree
driving.
You can find more detailed information on
the Service Interval Display on page 78.
Service and Warranty Information
Booklet (US models) and Service
Guide Booklet (Canadian models) Please consult your Service and Warranty
Information Booklet (US models) and
Service Guide Booklet (Canadian models)
for additional information on service
requirements.
Have service and repair operations
performed at your BMW center.
Take the time to ensure that these service
procedures are confirmed by entries in
your vehicle's Service and Warranty Infor-
mation Booklet (US models) and Service
Guide Booklet (Canadian models). These
entries verify that your vehicle has received
the specified regular maintenance, and
may also be required when submitting
warranty claims.< Care You can find everything you need to know
on this topic by consulting the separate
"Car care" manual.