Service BMW X3 2014 F25 Owner's Guide
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Approved wheels and tires
You should only use wheels and tires
that have been approved by the vehicle manu‐
facturer for your vehicle type; otherwise, e.g.,
despite having the same official size ratings,
variations can lead to chassis contact 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 guarantee the operating safety of the
vehicle.◀
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 Tire traction is not optimal due to manufactur‐
ing circumstances when tires are brand-new;
they achieve their full traction potential after a
break-in time.
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.
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
Winter tires are recommended for operating on
winter roads.
Although so-called all-season M+S tires pro‐
vide better winter traction than summer tires, they do not provide the same level of perform‐
ance 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 a respective symbol is displayed in your
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 respective winter tires; otherwise, tire dam‐
age and accidents 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 axlesDifferent wear patterns can occur on the frontand rear axles depending on individual driving
conditions. The tires can be rotated between
the axles to achieve even wear. Your service
center will be glad to advise you. After rotating,
check the tire pressure and correct if needed.
Rotating the tires is not permissible on vehi‐
cles with different tire sizes on the front and
rear axles, i.e. when using different types of
tires.Seite 201Wheels and tiresMobility201
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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 consist of tires that are self-sup‐
porting, to a limited degree, and possibly spe‐
cial rims.
The support of the sidewall allows the tire to
remain drivable to a restricted degree in the
event of a tire inflation pressure loss.
Follow the instructions for continued driving
with a flat tire.
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 the
vehicle, classified as road-safe and approved.
Information about the approved snow chains
are available from the service center.
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 snow chain manufacturer's instruc‐
tions.
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 needed.
Maximum speed with snow chains Do not exceed a speed of 30 mph/50 km/hwhen using snow chains.
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Engine compartmentVehicle features and optionsThis chapter describes all standard, country-
specific and optional features offered with the
series. It also describes features that are notnecessarily available in your car, e. g., due to
the selected options or country versions. This
also applies to safety-related functions and
systems.
Important features in the engine compartment
1Washer fluid reservoir2Vehicle identification number3Jump-starting, negative battery terminal4Jump-starting, positive battery terminal5Coolant reservoir6Oil filler neckHood
Hints Working in the engine compartment
Never attempt to perform any service or
repair operations on your vehicle without the
necessary professional technical training.If you are unfamiliar with the statutory guide‐
lines, have any work on the vehicle performed
only by a service center.
If work is not carried out properly, there is a
danger of subsequent damage and related
safety hazards.◀Seite 203Engine compartmentMobility203
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Approved engine oil types
You can add engine oils with the following
specifications:Gasoline engineBMW Longlife-01.BMW Longlife-01 FE.Diesel engineBMW Longlife-04.
Additional information about the approved
types of engine oils can be obtained from the
service center.
Alternative engine oil types If the approved engine oils are not available, up
to 1 US quart/liter of an engine oil with the fol‐
lowing specification can be added:
Gasoline engineAPI SM or superior grade specification.Diesel engineAPI ILSAC GF-5.
Engine oil change:
The vehicle manufacturer recommends that
you let the service center change the motor oil.
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CoolantVehicle features and optionsThis chapter describes all standard, country-
specific and optional features offered with the
series. It also describes features that are not
necessarily available in your car, e. g., due to
the selected options or country versions. This
also applies to safety-related functions and
systems.
Hints Danger of burns from hot engine
Do not open the cooling system while
the engine is hot; otherwise, esliding coolant
may cause burns.◀
Suitable additives
Only use suitable additives; otherwise,
engine damage may occur. The additives are
harmful to your health.◀
Coolant consists of water and additives.
Not all commercially available additives are
suitable for the vehicle. Information about the
suitable additives are available from the service
center.
Coolant level
General information Depending on the engine installation, the cool‐
ant reservoir is located on the right side or the
left side of the engine compartment.Checking1.Let the engine cool.2.Turn the lid of the coolant reservoir slightly
counterclockwise to allow any excess
pressure to dissipate, then open it.3.Open the coolant reservoir lid.4.The coolant level is correct if it lies be‐
tween the minimum and maximum marks
in the filler neck.Seite 208MobilityCoolant208
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MaintenanceVehicle features and options
This chapter describes all standard, country-
specific and optional features offered with the
series. It also describes features that are not
necessarily available in your car, e. g., due to
the selected options or country versions. This
also applies to safety-related functions and
systems.
BMW maintenance system
The maintenance system indicates required
maintenance measures, and thereby provides
support in maintaining road safety and the op‐
erational reliability of the vehicle.
Condition Based Service
CBS
Sensors and special algorithms take into ac‐
count the driving conditions of your vehicle.
Based on this, Condition Based Service recog‐
nizes the maintenance requirements.
The system makes it possible to adapt the
amount of maintenance corresponding to your
user profile.
Detailed information on service requirements,
refer to page 85, can be displayed on the Con‐
trol Display.
For service data
Information on the required maintenance is
continuously stored in the remote control. Your service center will read out this data and
suggest the right array of service procedures for your vehicle.
Therefore, hand your service specialist the re‐
mote control with which the vehicle was driven
most recently.Storage periods
Storage periods during which the vehicle bat‐
tery was disconnected are not taken into ac‐
count.
If this occurs, have a service center update the
time-dependent maintenance procedures,
such as checking brake fluid and, if needed,
changing the engine oil and the microfilter/
activated-charcoal filter.
Service and Warranty
Information Booklet for US
models and Warranty and
Service Guide Booklet for
Canadian models
Please consult your Service and Warranty In‐
formation Booklet for US models and Warranty
and Service Guide Booklet for Canadian mod‐ els for additional information on service re‐
quirements.
Maintenance and repair should be performed
by your service center. Make sure to have reg‐
ular maintenance procedures recorded in the
vehicle's Service and Warranty Information
Booklet for US models, and in the Warranty
and Service Guide Booklet for Canadian mod‐
els. These entries are proof of regular mainte‐
nance.
Socket for OBD Onboard
Diagnosis
Note Socket for Onboard Diagnosis
The socket for onboard diagnostics may
only be used by the service center or a work‐
shop that operates in accordance with the
specifications of the vehicle manufacturer withSeite 210MobilityMaintenance210
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Rear: replacing the wiper blades1.Lift off the wiper fully and pull off the wiper
blade, arrow.2.Attach a new wiper blade. It must engage
audibly.3.Fold down the wipers.
Lamp and bulb replacement
Hints
Lights and bulbs
Lights and bulbs make an essential contribu‐
tion to vehicle safety.
The manufacturer of the vehicle recommends
that you entrust corresponding procedures to
the service center if you are unfamiliar those or
if they have not been described here.
You can obtain a selection of replacement
bulbs at the service center.
Danger of burns
Only change bulbs when they are cool;
otherwise, there is a danger of getting
burned.◀
Working on the lighting system
When working on the lighting system,
you should always reel off the lights affected to
prevent short circuits.
To avoid possible injury or equipment damage
when replacing bulbs, observe any instructions
provided by the bulb manufacturer.◀
Do not perform work/bulb replacement
on xenon headlights
Have any work on the xenon lighting system,
including bulb replacement, performed only by
a service center. Due to the high voltage
present in the system, there is a danger of fatal
injuries if work is carried out improperly.◀
Do not touch the bulbs
Do not touch the glass of new bulbs with
your bare hands, as even minute amounts of
contamination will burn into the bulb's surface
and reduce its service life.
Use a clean tissue, cloth or something similar,
or hold the bulb by its base.◀
Light-emitting diodes (LEDs)
Some items of equipment use light-emitting
diodes installed behind a cover as a light
source.
These light-emitting diodes, which are related
to conventional lasers, are officially designated as Class 1 light-emitting diodes.
Do not remove the covers
Do not remove the covers, and never
stare into the unfiltered light for several hours;
otherwise, irritation of the retina could result.◀
Headlight glass
Condensation can form on the inside of the ex‐
ternal lights in cool or humid weather. When
driving with the light switched on, the conden‐
sation evaporates after a short time. The head‐
light glass does not need to be changed.
If the headlights do not dim despite driving
with the light switched on, increasing humidity
forms, e. g. water droplets in the light, have the
service center check this.
Headlight setting
The headlight adjustments can be affected by
changing lights and bulbs. Have the head‐Seite 213Replacing componentsMobility213
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High beams/headlight flasher
55-watt bulb, H7.1.Tip the connector with the bulb up slightly
and pull out carefully.2.Pull the bulb off the connector and insert
the new bulb.3.Install the new bulb in reverse order of re‐
moval.4.Place the cover according to the arrow
markings on the headlight housing.5.Close the headlight housing with the lid.
Daytime running lights
21-watt bulb, W21W.
1.Turn the bulb holder counterclockwise and
remove.2.Carefully remove the bulb from the socket.3.Install the new bulb in reverse order of re‐
moval.4.Place the cover according to the arrow
markings on the headlight housing.5.Close the headlight housing with the lid.
Xenon headlights
Hints
Because of the long life of these bulbs, the
likelihood of failure is very low. Switching the
lights on and off frequently shortens their life.
If a bulb fails, reel on the front fog lights and
continue the trip with great care. Comply with
local regulations.
Do not perform work/bulb replacement
on xenon headlights
Have any work on the xenon lighting system,
including bulb replacement, performed only by
a service center. Due to the high voltage
present in the system, there is a danger of fatal
injuries if work is carried out improperly.◀
For checking and adjusting headlamp aim,
please contact your BMW center.
At a glance1Parking lights / daytime running lights2Low beams/high beams/headlight flasher3Turn signal/side marker light
Xenon headlights
Low beams and high beams are designed with
xenon technology.
The parking lights and daylight running lights
are made using LED technology.
Contact your service center in the event of a
malfunction.
LED headlightsLight-emitting diodes (LEDs)
With LED headlights, all front lights and side
indicators are designed with LED technology.
If an LED fails, reel on the front fog lights and continue the trip with great care. Comply withlocal regulations.
Contact your service center in the event of a
malfunction.
Front fog lights
Follow general instructions, refer to page 213.
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35-watt bulb, H8.1.Insert the screwdriver from the onboard
vehicle tool kit, with the flat side on the clip,
arrow 1.2.Turn the screwdriver by 90°, arrow 2.3.Remove the front fog lamp toward the
front.4.Detach the connector.5.Turn the bulb bracket and remove it.6.Remove the bulb and replace it.7.Proceed in reverse order to insert the front
fog lamp. Note the guide rails in doing so.LED front fog lights
These front fog lights are made using LED
technology. Contact your service center in the
event of a malfunction.
Turn signal Note
Follow general instructions, refer to page 213.
The turn signals are located next to each low
beam in the engine compartment.
21-watt bulb, PY 21W.
Replacement1.Open the hood, refer to page 203.2.Turn the bulb with the socket counter‐
clockwise and carefully remove.3.Push the bulb down slightly and unscrew
from the socket.4.To insert the new bulb, proceed in reverse
order of removal.
Turn signal in exterior mirror
The turn signals in the exterior mirrors feature
LED technology. Contact your service center
in the event of a malfunction.
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Tail lights, bulb replacement
At a glance1Turn signal2Backup lamp3Inside brake lamp4Rear lamp5Rear lamp/brake light
Bulb replacement, exterior tail lights General information
Follow general instructions, refer to page 213.
21-watt bulb, P21W.
With Adaptive Light Control or xenon head‐
lights: rear lamp features LED technology.
Contact your service center in the event of a
malfunction.
Use caution when replacing the bulb
Use caution and proceed one step at a
time when replacing the bulbs to prevent dam‐
age to the tail lights or the vehicle.◀
Removing the exterior tail lamp
1.Open the tailgate.2.Insert the screwdriver from the onboard
vehicle tool kit between the cover andbody, push it up, arrow, and remove the
cover.3.Release both nuts.4.Remove the tail lamp from the body and
detach the connector.
Replacing the bulbs
1.Release the three fasteners on the bulb
holder and remove the bulb holder from
the tail lamp.2.Turn the bulb and remove it. The turn sig‐
nal is the upper bulb and the rear lamp/
brake lamp is the lower bulb on the bulb
holder.3.Proceed in the reverse order to insert the
new bulb and attach the bulb holder. MakeSeite 217Replacing componentsMobility217
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