spare wheel BMW 325Ci COUPE 2001 E46 Owner's Manual

86n

Tire Pressure Control (RDC)

*
In the event of a flat tire

If there is a tire failure with loss of pres-
sure, the indicator lamp comes on with
a red lamp. In addition, an acoustic
signal is sounded.
If this occurs, reduce vehicle speed
immediately to stop the vehicle in a safe
location. Avoid hard brake applications.
Do not oversteer. Replace the wheel
and flat tire.
The space-saver spare tire is
provided for temporary use only in
the event of tire pressure loss. It does
not have RDC electronics and is not
monitored. A full-size spare tire that has
the same dimensions as the tires
already mounted on the vehicle is
equipped with the necessary RDC elec-
tronics, and will be also monitored once
the tires have been mounted and the
system activated.

<

RDC cannot alert you to severe
and sudden tire damage caused
by external factors.

<

Have the tires changed by your
BMW center.
Your BMW center has been trained to
work with the RDC system and is
equipped with the necessary special
tools.

<

System interference

Local devices using the same radio
frequency can interfere with the RDC.
The yellow indicator lamp will come on
during the malfunction.
The indicator lamp also comes on

>

in the event of a system fault.

>

if a wheel is mounted without the
appropriate electronics.

>

if, in addition to the spare tire, addi-
tional wheels with RDC electronics
are on board.
Please contact your BMW center for
additional information.

124n
Tire replacement Tire rotationTire ageThe date on which the tire was manu-
factured is indicated by the code on the
sidewall:
DOT ... 4100 means that the tire was
manufactured in week 41 of 2000.
BMW recommends the replacement of
all tires when the tires are no more than
6 years old, even if a tire life of 10 years
is possible.
Spare tires over 6 years old should be
used only in case of emergency. A tire
in this condition should be replaced by
a new tire immediately, and should not
be mounted together with new tires.
Between the axlesThe tread wear patterns at the front end
differ from those at the rear Ð the actual
patterns will vary according to individ-
ual driving conditions. In the interests of
safety and maintaining optimal handling
characteristics, tire rotation is not
recommended.
If a proposed interaxle rotation of tires
is based on economic considerations,
one should consider whether the costs
for the rotation are likely to be recap-
tured by any increase in the service life
of the tires that might be realized. In
principle, tire rotation should be per-
formed at short intervals (maximum
3,000 miles/5,000 km). Consult your
BMW center for more information.
Should you decide to rotate the tires,
it is essential to comply with the
following:
Rotate tires on the same side only,
since braking characteristics and road
grip could otherwise be adversely
affected.
Following rotation, the tire inflation
pressure should always be corrected.If different tire sizes are mounted
on the front and rear axles (refer
to page 127), the wheels may not be
rotated from one axle to the other.<

127n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Approved wheel and tire specifications Tire specifications Steel rim Light-alloy wheel
BMW 325Ci
All season tires
205/55 R 16 91 H M+S 7Jx16
Summer tires
205/55 R 16 91 V
225/50 R 16 92 W
225/50 ZR 16Ð 7Jx16
205/50 R 17 93 W extra load Ð 7Jx17
225/45 R 17 91 W Ð 8Jx17
Front: 225/45 ZR 17
Rear: 245/40 ZR 17Ð 7.5Jx17
8.5Jx17
Winter tires (M+S)
205/55 R 16 91 Q
225/50 R 16 92 Q Ð 7Jx16
205/50 R 17 93 Q extra load Ð 7Jx17
225/45 R 17 91 Q Ð 8Jx17
Space-saver spare tire
T 115/90 R 16 92 M 3.0Bx16
T 125/90 R 16 98 M 3.5Bx16 Ð
T 125/80 R 17 99 M 3.5Bx17 Ð
Comply with the specifications for tires and wheels in the vehicle's documents.
If you install tire sizes not approved by the manufacturer, an entry in the
vehicle's documents may be necessary.
Snow chains
*
You cannot mount snow chains with the
following tires:
225/50 R 16 92 W
225/50 R 16 92 Q M+S
225/50 ZR 16
225/45 R 17 91 W
225/45 R 17 91 Q/T/H M+S
245/40 ZR 17Mixed tiresFor details concerning tire manufac-
turers for mixed tires, refer to the
vehicle's documents.

128n
Approved wheel and tire specificationsTire specifications Steel rim Light-alloy wheel
BMW 330Ci
All season tires
205/50 R 17 93 H/V M+S extra load Ð 7Jx17
Summer tires
205/50 R 17 93 W extra load Ð 7Jx17
225/45 R 17 91 W Ð 8Jx17
Front: 225/45 ZR 17 7.5x17
Rear: 245/40 ZR 17 8.5x17
Winter tires (M+S)
205/50 R 17 93 Q extra load 7Jx17
225/45 R 17 91 Q Ð 8Jx17
Space-saver spare tire
T 125/80 R 17 99 M 3.5Bx17 Ð
Comply with the specifications for tires and wheels in the vehicle's documents.
If you install tire sizes not approved by the manufacturer, an entry in the
vehicle's documents may be necessary.
Snow chains
*
You cannot mount snow chains with the
following tires:
225/45 R 17 91 W
225/45 R 17 91 Q M+S
245/40 ZR 17Mixed tiresFor details concerning tire manufac-
turers for mixed tires, refer to the
vehicle's documents.

159n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Changing a wheel
Take these precautionary
measures if you have either a flat
tire or are changing the tire:
Stop the vehicle as far as possible from
passing traffic. Park on a firm, flat
surface. Switch on the hazard warning
flashers. Turn the steering wheel to the
straight-ahead position, remove the key
and engage the steering lock. Shift into
1st gear or reverse (selector lever in
"Park" with automatic transmission) 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 instance).
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
regulations.
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 it could slide sideways.
Position the jack on a firm support
surface. Do not place wooden blocks or
similar objects under the jack. If this is
done, the jack might not be able to
reach its full support capacity because
of the limited height.
Do not lie under the vehicle or start the
engine when the vehicle is supported
by the jack. Failure to comply with this
creates a risk of fatal injury.< Your BMW has a spare tire
or a space-
saver spare tire for temporary use to
ensure your mobility.
To remove the spare tire, lift out
the floor panel in the luggage
compartment completely (refer to
page 41).<

160n
Changing a wheelYou will need the followingIn 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 41) and
loosen the red wing nut (arrow).
When you have completed work,
screw the jack all the way back
down. Fold the handle back and
insert it in its holder.
>Wedge (2)
Located behind the jack on the wall
in the luggage compartment. Loosen
the wing nut to remove it.460de058
>Spare tire or space-saver spare tire
Next to the jack.
Loosen the wing nut (arrow) by hand,
remove the storage shelf and take the
wheel out.
>Lug wrench
In the onboard tool kit on the under-
side of the luggage compartment lid
(refer to page 152).460de059
Procedure1 Read and comply with the safety
precautions provided on the
previous page.
2 Secure the vehicle from rolling:
Place the wedge 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 wedge
securely in front of the tire. If the
wheel must be changed on a
surface with a more severe slope,
take additional precautions to
secure the vehicle from rolling.
3 If your wheels are equipped with full
wheel covers
*: reach into the venti-
lation openings and pull off the
cover.
462de251

161n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Changing a wheel4 Loosen the lug bolts g turn.
5 Position the jack at the jacking point
closest to the flat tire (refer to the
center illustration) so that the jack
base is vertically below the jacking
point and the entire surface of the
head of the jack will move into the
square recess of the jacking point
(refer to the illustration detail) when
the jack is cranked.
6 Crank the vehicle up until the wheel
in question is raised from the
ground.
7 Unscrew the lug bolts and remove
the wheel.
8 Remove accumulations of mud or
dirt from the mounting surfaces of
the wheel and hub; clean the lug
bolts.462de252
9 Position the new wheel or the
space-saver spare tire on the hub
and screw at least two lug bolts
finger-tight into opposite bolt holes.
10 Screw in the remaining lug bolts.
Tighten all the bolts securely.
11 Lower the jack and remove it from
beneath the vehicle.
12 Tighten the lug bolts in a diagonal
pattern.462de266
13 If your wheels are equipped with full
wheel covers
*: position the wheel
cover with the valve opening over
the valve (arrow) and press it onto
the wheel with both hands.
14 Check and correct the tire's inflation
pressure at the earliest possibility.
For vehicles with Tire Pressure
Control (RDC):
Reactivate the system after
mounting the spare tire or
correcting the air pressure. Refer to
page 85.
Only use original BMW full wheel
covers, otherwise, the trim piece
may not fit securely. The full wheel
cover may not be installed on the
space-saver spare tire since this could
damage the cover.<
462de279

162n
Changing a wheel
The vehicle jack is designed for
changing wheels only. Do not
attempt to raise another vehicle model
with it or to raise any load of any kind.
To do so could cause accidents and
personal injury.
To ensure continued safety, have the
tightness of the lug bolts checked with
a calibrated lug wrench [torque specifi-
cation: 72 lb.ft (100Nm)] at the earliest
opportunity.<
When storing the wheel, be sure that
you do not damage the retaining pin in
the spare tire recess.
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.
For black-painted aluminum wheels
*,
use only those balancing weights
approved by BMW for use with light-
alloy wheels. Never attempt to balance
these wheels using standard balance
weights.
Driving with the space-saver
spare tireDrive cautiously and do not exceed a
speed of 50 mph (80 km/h).
Be aware that vehicle handling will be
altered. Slower brake response time,
longer braking distances and changed
steering characteristics may be anti-
cipated when approaching limit condi-
tions.
The changes in handling characteristics
will be even more pronounced in
conjunction with winter tires.
Only one space-saver spare tire

may be mounted at a time. Mount
a wheel and tire with the same size
and specifications as the others at the
earliest possible opportunity. Maintain
correct tire pressures. Refer to
page 28.<

Everything from A to ZPDC (Park Distance
Control)81
Performance184
Pocket flashlight102
Pollen93,100
Power seat50
Power steering121
Power windows44
safety feature44
Pressure monitoring,
tires85,179
Pressure, tires27,122 Q
Quality Grades123 R
Radiator187
Radio Data System
(RDS)176
Radio reception121,176
Radio, refer also to the
separate Owner's Manual
Rain sensor71,178
RDC (Tire Pressure
Control)85,179
RDS (Radio Data
System)176
Reading lamps89
Rear backrest, folding106 Rear lamps155
Rear window
defroster72,92,100
Rear-entry assist49
Rearview mirror52
Recirculated air mode92
Reclining seat47
Refueling26
Remote control35
Removing condensation
from the windows94,99
Replacement keys32
Reporting safety defects7
Restraint system56
Reverse17,66
Roller blind, sun
protection101
Roof load capacity186
Roof-mounted luggage
rack109
Rubber parts119
S
Safety belt tensioner176
Safety belts55
height adjustment55
Safety buttons38
Safety feature44
Safety terminal, battery164 Seats47
adjusting47
electric power50
heating101
mechanical47
memory51
sitting properly58
Securing the load108
Selector lever, automatic
transmission67
Self-defrosting mirrors52
Self-diagnostics180
Service and Warranty
Information Booklet140
Service Interval Display76
Shiftlock67
Side airbags57
Side impact Head Protection
System57
Side lamps87
bulb replacement154
Sitting properly with
airbag58
Ski bag107
Skid control120
Sliding/tilt sunroof45
closing following an
electrical malfunction167
convenience operation34
Slippery roads119
Snow chains119,126 Socket105
for flashlights105
for power supplies105
for vacuum cleaner105
Spare key32
Spare tire159
Spark plugs188
Speaker104
Specifications, fuel27
Speed control75
Speed display18
Speed, average80
Speedometer18
Sports seat49
Starting assistance168
Starting
problems113,168
Starting the engine63
Steel rim127
Steering121
Steering lock63
Steering wheel52
adjusting52
Steptronic67
Stopping the vehicle64
Storage compartments102
Storage facilities102
Storing your vehicle147
Stroke184
Summer tires125,127
Sun roller blind101
Sun visors53

Owner service proceduresP
Parking lamps, bulb
replacement154
Pressure, tires27 R
Rear lamps155
Releasing the fuel filler
door167
Releasing the hood130
Removing condensation
from the windows94,99
Replacement key32
Replacing bulbs152
Replacing windshield wiper
blades152
Return used batteries165
Rotating the tires159 S
Sliding/tilt sunroof, closing
after electrical fault167
Space-saver spare tire159
Spare key32
Spare tire159
Starting problems64,113
Switching off the tilt sensor
alarm system43
T
Tail lamp assembly, bulb
replacement155
Tire
changing159
checking air pressure27
damage122
Tools152
Towing eyelets169
Towing the vehicle169
Turn signal indicator, bulb
replacement154 U
Unintentional alarm,
avoiding43
Use of antifreeze,
radiator138 V
Vanity mirror, bulb
replacement158 W

Warning lamps20
Washer fluid, adding134
Washer nozzles,
adjusting134
Washer reservoir, filling134
Wheel lug wrench159 Windows,
defrosting94,99
Windshield washer,
filling134
Windshield wiper blades,
replacing152
Work in the engine
compartment130