wheel BMW 325CI 2005 Owner's Manual

130Wheels and tires
Tire inflation pressureInformation for your safetyIt is not merely the tire's service life, but
also driving comfort and, above all else,
driving safety that depend on the condi-
tion 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. 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 93.
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.

134
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. 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. wall with a circular symbol containing
the letters RSC, refer to page 135.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

135
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
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136
If there is a total loss of tire inflation
pressure, 0 psi/0 kPa, or obvious tire
damage, you can determine the dis-
tance you may continue driving based
on the following values:
>With a light load:
1 to 2 persons without luggage:
approx. 155 miles/250 km
>With a medium load:
2 persons, luggage compartment full;
or 4 persons without luggage:
approx. 90 miles/150 km
>With a full load:
4 persons or more, luggage compart-
ment full:
approx. 30 miles/50 km
Drive cautiously. Do not exceed a
speed of 50 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.<
New wheels and tires
Have new wheels and tires
mounted only by a skilled profes-
sional. Work that is improperly carried
out could result in consequential dam-
age and pose safety hazards.<
Ask your BMW center for details con-
cerning the correct wheel and tire com-
bination. Have the wheels balanced
each time a wheel or tire has been
replaced.
The correct wheel and tire combination
also affects different systems such as
ABS or DSC. The function of these sys-
tems is impaired if improper wheel and
tire combinations are used.
BMW advises against using
retreaded tires, as driving safety
could otherwise be impaired. This is
due to the possible variations in casing
structures and, in some cases, to their
extreme age, which can lead to a
decrease in their durability.<
The correct wheels and tires
BMW recommends using only
wheels and tires that have been
tested and approved by BMW for the
particular vehicle model, as otherwise
body contact and serious accidents can
result despite the use of the same nom-
inal size, e.g. due to manufacturing tol-
erances. 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.<
To maintain good handling and vehicle
response, use only tires of a single
brand and tread configuration. After a
flat tire, have the previous wheel and
tire combination restored as soon as
possible.
Recommended tire sizes and
brandsFor each tire size, certain tire brands
have been tested, classified as road-
safe and approved by BMW. You can
find out about these from a professional
Run Flat tires*

137
tire center, preferably your BMW cen-
ter. Observe any country-specific regu-
lations, e.g. on making a corresponding
entry in the vehicle documents.
The factory-approved radial belt tires
are matched to your vehicle and pro-
vide optimum safety and driving com-
fort when used properly.Run Flat tiresIf your vehicle is equipped with Run Flat
tires, refer to Run Flat tires, use only
these tires since no spare wheel is
available in the event of a flat.Special characteristics of winter
tiresBMW 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 summer tires, they gener-
ally do not achieve the full performance
of winter tires.
Run Flat tires:
If your vehicle is equipped with Run Flat
tires, refer to Run Flat tires, please note
the following: when mounting new tires
or replacing summer tires with winter tires, or vice versa, use only Run Flat
tires since no spare wheel is available
in the event of a flat. Your BMW center
wil be glad to advise you.
Observing speed ratings:
Never exceed the maximum
speed for which the winter tires
are rated. Unprofessional attempts by
laymen to service tires can lead to dam-
age and accidents. Have this work per-
formed by skilled professionals only.
The technicians at your BMW center
will be glad to assist you with the
required professional knowledge and
specialized equipment.<
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 inflation pres-
sures specified on the tire sidewall.
Snow chains*Only certain snow chains have been
tested by BMW and determined and
approved as roadworthy. Consult your
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
>245/40 R 17
>225/40 R 18
>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 92.<
New wheels and tires
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157
License plate lamps5 watt bulb
1. Place a screwdriver in the slot and
press toward the left to release the
lens
2. Replace the bulb.Light-emitting diodesLight-emitting diodes (LEDs) installed
behind translucent lenses serve as the
light sources for many of the controls
and displays in your vehicle. These
light-emitting diodes are related to con-
ventional lasers, and legislation defines
them as light-emitting diodes, Class 1.
Do not remove the protective lens,
and avoid staring directly at the
unfiltered beam for several hours, as
inflammation of the retina could
result.<
Changing a wheel
Safety precautions in the event of
a flat tire or wheel change:
Stop the vehicle as far as possible from
passing traffic. Park on a firm, flat, sur-
face. Switch on the hazard warning
flashers. Turn the steering wheel to the
straight-ahead position and engage the
steering lock. Shift into 1st or Reverse,
or if you have an automatic transmis-
sion position the selector lever in Park,
and engage the parking brake.
All passengers should be outside the
vehicle and well away from your imme-
diate working area – behind a guardrail,
for example.
If a warning triangle or portable hazard
warning lamp is available, set it up on
the roadside at an appropriate distance
from the rear of the vehicle. Comply
with all safety guidelines and regula-
tions.
Change the wheel only on a level, firm
surface which is not slippery. Avoid
jacking the vehicle on a soft or slippery
support surface – snow, ice, loose
gravel, etc. – as either the vehicle or the
jack could slip sideways.
Position the jack on a firm support sur-
face.
Do not place wooden blocks or similar
objects under the jack. They could pre-
vent the jack from extending to its full
Lamps and bulbs
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158
height and reduce its support capacity.
Do not lie under the vehicle or start the
engine when the vehicle is supported
by the jack. There is otherwise a risk of
fatal injury.<
Your BMW is equipped with a space-
saver spare tire designed for temporary
use in maintaining the vehicle's mobility
in an emergency.
To remove the space-saver spare
tire, lift the floor panel in the lug-
gage compartment completely out,
refer to page 35.<
What you will needIn order to avoid rattling noises later,
note the position of the tools when you
remove them and return them to their
original position when you are through
using them.
>Jack 1
Raise the floor panel in the luggage
compartment, refer to page 35, and
undo the jack.
When you have completed work, fold
the handle back and insert it in its
holder
>Chock 2
Located behind the jack on the wall
in the luggage compartment. Loosen
the wingnut to remove it
>Space-saver spare tire – next to jack
Loosen the wing nut by hand, remove
the storage shelf and take the wheel
out
>Lug wrench – in the onboard tool kit
on the underside of the luggage com-
partment lid, refer to page 152.Procedure1. Read and comply with the safety
precautions provided on the previ-
ous page
2. Secure the vehicle to prevent it
from rolling:
Place the chock against the rear
surface of the front tire on the side
opposite the side being raised. If
the vehicle is parked on a down-
ward slope, place the chock
securely in front of the tire. If the
Changing a wheel

159
wheel must be changed on a sur-
face with a more severe slope, take
additional precautions to secure
the vehicle from rolling
3. Wheels with full wheel covers*:
reach into the ventilation openings
and pull the cover off
4. If your vehicle is equipped with
Individual light-alloy wheels*: insert
the wheel puller supplied with the
vehicle into the designated recess
of the cover, and pull the cover off
5. Loosen the lug bolts by rotating
half a turn6. Position the jack at the jacking
point closest to the flat tire with the
jack base vertically below the jack-
ing point. The entire surface of the
head of the jack moves into the
square recess of the jacking point –
refer to the detail in the next illus-
tration – when the jack is cranked
7. Continue raising the vehicle up
until the wheel you are changing is
raised from the ground
8. Unscrew the lug bolts and remove
the wheel
9. Remove accumulations of mud and
dirt from the mounting surfaces of
the wheel and hub. Clean the lug
bolts
10. Position the new wheel or the
space-saver spare tire on the hub
and screw at least two lug bolts fin-
ger-tight into opposite bolt holes
11. Screw in the remaining lug bolts.
Screw in all the bolts in a diagonal
pattern
12. Lower the jack and remove it from
beneath the vehicle
13. Tighten the lug bolts securely in a
diagonal pattern
Changing a wheel
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160
14. Wheels with full wheel covers*:
place the wheel cover with the
valve opening over the valve. Use
both hands to press the cover
securely onto the rim
15. Check and correct the tire inflation
pressure at the earliest opportunity.
Vehicles with Flat Tire Monitor:
After mounting the spare tire or
correcting the tire inflation pres-
sure, reinitialize the system, refer to
page 93.
Protect valve stems and valves from dirt
using screw-on valve stem caps. Dirty
valve stems frequently lead to slow
pressure loss.
Do not place the full wheel cover
on the space-saver spare tire,
since this could damage the cover.<
The vehicle jack is designed for
changing wheels only. Do not
attempt to raise another vehicle model
with it or to raise any other type of load.
To do so could cause accidents and
personal injury.
To ensure continued safety, have the
tightness of the torque bolts checked
with a calibrated lug wrench – torque
specification: 88.5 lb ft/120 Nm – at the
earliest opportunity.<
When storing a wheel in the spare tire
recess, take care to avoid bending the
threaded rod.
If light-alloy wheels other than original
BMW light-alloy wheels have been
mounted, it may be necessary to use
different lug bolts for those wheels.
Replace the defective tire as soon as
possible and have the new wheel/tire
balanced.
Driving with the space-saver
spare tireDrive cautiously. Do not exceed a
speed of 45 mph / 80 km/h.
Be aware that vehicle handling may be
altered. Anticipate, e.g., reduced track-
ing during braking, longer braking dis-
tances and changed steering charac-
teristics when approaching limit
conditions. These handling characteris-
tics will be even more pronounced if
winter tires are mounted.
Only one space-saver spare tire
may be mounted at one time.
Mount a wheel and tire of the original
size at the earliest possible opportu-
nity.<
Changing a wheel

Everything from A to Z
177
Battery 161
charge 161
disposal 161
indicator lamp 18
jump-starting 163
remote control 28, 29
Battery charge current 18
Belts, refer to Safety
belts 54
Beverage holders 113
Blower
air conditioning 102
automatic climate
control 106
BMW High Performance
Synthetic Oils 143
BMW Maintenance
System 146
BMW sports seat 51
Bottle holders, see Bever-
age holders 113
Brake fluid 145
indicator lamp 18, 145
level 145
Brake force display 94
Brake lamps
bulb replacement 155
indicator lamp, defective
lamp 86
Brake lamps, refer to Brake
force display 94Brake pads
brake fluid level 18, 145
breaking in 124
indicator lamp 19
Brake rotors
breaking in 124
Brake wear warning
indicator lamp 19
Brakes
ABS 127
brake fluid 145
brake force display 94
brake pads 126
breaking in 124
driving notes 125
indicator/warning lamp
18, 19
parking brake 71
Break-in procedures 124
Bulb replacement, refer to
Lamps and bulbs 153
Bulb, replacing 153
Buttons in steering wheel 21
C
California laws
event data recorders 148
Proposition 65
warning 148
Can holders, see Beverage
holders 113
Capacities 173Car battery 161
Car care, refer to the Caring
for your vehicle brochure
Car keys, refer to Keys 28
Car radio, refer to the
Owner's Manual for Radio
Car telephone
preparation 113
Car telephone, refer to the
separate Owner's Manual
Car vacuum cleaner, con-
necting 114
Car wash, refer to the Caring
for your vehicle brochure
Carpet care, refer to the
Caring for your vehicle
brochure
Cassette operation, refer to
the Owner's Manual for
Radio/Onboard Computer
CBC Cornering Brake Con-
trol 127
warning lamp 18
CD changer, refer to the
Owner's Manual for
Radio/Onboard Computer
CD operation, refer to the
Owner's Manual for
Radio/Onboard Computer
Center armrest
front 112Center high-mount brake
lamp
bulb replacement 156
Central locking system 28
button 32
passenger
compartment 32
Changing a wheel 157
Charge indicator lamp 18
Check Control 86
Check Gas Cap
indicator lamp 19
Child seats, refer to Child-
restraint systems 62
Child-restraint mounting
system (LATCH) 64
Child-restraint system 62
Chock 158
Cigarette lighter 113
Cleaning chrome parts, refer
to the Caring for your vehi-
cle brochure
Cleaning light alloy wheels,
refer to the Caring for your
vehicle brochure
Cleaning position, convert-
ible top 43, 48
Cleaning the vehicle, refer to
the Caring for your vehicle
brochure
Cleaning windshield 82
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