Control BMW 325I SEDAN 2005 E90 Owner's Manual

Refueling
168
Refueling
Always switch off the engine before refu-
eling. If you do not, fuel cannot be filled
into the tank and a message will appear on the
Control Display.<
Always observe all applicable precautions
and regulations when handling fuels.
Never carry spare fuel containers in your vehi-
cle. Whether empty or full, these containers can
leak, cause an explosion, or lead to fire in the
event of a collision.<
Gas cap
Opening
1.Open fuel filler door. To do so, lightly press
the rear edge.
2.Turn the gas cap counterclockwise.
3.Place the gas cap in the bracket attached to
the fuel filler door.
Closing
Fit the cap and turn it clockwise until you clearly
hear a click.
Close the gas cap carefully after refueling
until a click is heard. While closing, be
sure not to squeeze the strap which is fastened
to the cap. A loose or missing cap will activate
an indicator lamp and the message Check Gas
Cap
* on the Control Display.<
Manually releasing the fuel filler door
In the event of an electrical malfunction, you can
release the fuel filler door manually:1.Remove the cover from the side panel of the
luggage compartment.
2.Pull the knob with the fuel pump symbol.
The fuel filler door is released.
Observe the following when refueling
When handling fuels always observe any
safety guidelines posted at the service
station.<
When refueling, insert the filler nozzle com-
pletely into the filler pipe. Lifting the filler nozzle
during refueling leads to
>premature pump shutoff
>a reduced efficiency of the fuel-vapor
recovery system.
The fuel tank is full when the filler nozzle clicks
off the first time.
Fuel tank capacity
Approx. 15.9 gallons/60 liters, including the
reserve capacity of 2.1 gallons/8 liters.
Refuel as soon as possible once your
cruising range falls below 30 miles/
50 km, as otherwise engine functions are not
ensured and damage can occur.<
Fuel specifications
The engine uses lead-free gasoline only.

Mobility
169Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Required fuel
Premium Unleaded Gasoline
The minimum octane rating is 91.
If you use gasoline with this minimum octane
rating, the engine may produce knocking
sounds when starting at high outside tempera-
tures. This has no affect on the engine life.
Minimum octane rating corresponds to the Anti
Knock Index AKI and is determined according
to the so-called (R+M)/2 method.
Do not fill the tank with leaded fuel, as this
would cause permanent damage to the
catalytic converter.<
Use high-quality brands
Field experience has indicated significant dif-
ferences in fuel quality: volatility, composition,
additives, etc., among gasolines offered for sale
in the United States and Canada. Fuels contain-
ing up to and including 10 % ethanol or other
oxygenates with up to 2.8 % oxygen by weight,
that is, 15 % MTBE or 3 % methanol plus an
equivalent amount of co-solvent, will not void
the applicable warranties with respect to
defects in materials or workmanship.
The use of poor-quality fuels may result in
drivability, starting and stalling problems
especially under certain environmental condi-
tions such as high ambient temperature and
high altitude.
Should you encounter drivability problems
which you suspect could be related to the fuel
you are using, we recommend that you respond
by switching to a recognized high-quality
brand.
Failure to comply with these recommendations
may also result in unscheduled maintenance.<

Wheels and tires
170
Wheels and tires
Tire inflation pressure
Information for your safety
It is not merely the tires' 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.
Check the tire inflation pressure regularly
and correct it, if necessary: at least twice a
month and before starting long trips. If you fail
to observe this precaution you may be driving
on tires with incorrect tire pressures, a condi-
tion that can not only compromise your vehi-
cle's driving stability, but also lead to tire dam-
age and the risk of an accident. Do not drive
with deflated, i.e. flat tires, except when using
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.<
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 is higher.
After correcting tire inflation pressures,
always reinitialize the Flat Tire Monitor,
refer to page80.<
Inflation pressure specifications for
factory-installed tires
The inflation pressures for your factory-
installed tires at ambient temperature can be
found on the door post when you open the
driver's door.
Inflation pressure specifications for
other tire sizes
The tables below provide all the correct inflation
pressures for the specified tire sizes at ambient
temperature.
The inflation pressures apply to the tire
sizes approved and tire brands recom-
mended by BMW; a list of these is available
from your BMW center.<
For correct identification of the right tire infla-
tion pressures, observe the following:
>Tire sizes for your vehicle
>Load conditions
>Maximum allowable driving speed
Tire inflation pressures for driving up to
100 mph or 160 km/h
For normal driving up to 100 mph or 160 km/h
adjust pressures to the respective tire inflation
pressures listed on the following pages in the
traveling speeds column for normal driving at
speeds up to a maximum of 100 mph or
160 km/h to achieve optimum driving comfort.
The maximum permissible speed for
these tire pressures is 100 mph or

Mobility
171Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
160 km/h. Do not exceed this speed, otherwise
tire damage and accidents could occur.<
Tire inflation pressures for driving
above 100 mph or 160 km/h
In order to drive at maximum speeds in
excess of 100 mph or 160 km/h, please
observe, and, if necessary, adjust tire pressures
for speeds exceeding 100 mph or 160 km/h
from the relevant table on the following pages.
Otherwise tire damage and accidents could oc-
cur.<
Observe all national and local maximum speed
limits, otherwise violations of the laws could
occur.

Mobility
173Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Tire inflation pressures for 325i with Sports package*
Tire size Pressure specifications in psi/kPa
Traveling speeds
up to a max. of
100 mph / 160 km/hTraveling speeds
including those exceeding
100 mph / 160 km/h
All pressure specifications in
the table are indicated in
psi/kilopascal with cold tires.
Cold = ambient temperature
225/50 R 16 92 V
225/45 R 17 94 V M+S XL29/200 35/240 29/200 36/250 35/240 42/290
205/55 R 16 91 H M+S
225/45 R 17 91 H M+S29/200 35/240 29/200 35/240 32/220 39/270
Front: 225/45 R 17 91 V 29/200 - 29/200 - 35/240 -
Rear: 255/40 R 17 94 V - 32/220 - 33/230 - 38/260
Front: 225/40 R 18 88 W 32/220 - 33/230 - 38/260 -
Rear: 255/35 R 18 90 W - 35/240 36/250 - 42/290
Front: 225/35 R 19 88 Y XL 35/240 - 33/230 - 38/260
Rear: 255/30 R 19 91 Y XL - 39/270 - 36/250 42/290
More details on the permissible load and weights can be found on page201.

Mobility
175Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Tire inflation pressures for 330i with Sports package*
Tire size Pressure specifications in psi/kPa
Traveling speeds
up to a max. of
100 mph / 160 km/hTraveling speeds
including those exceeding
100 mph / 160 km/h
All pressure specifications in
the table are indicated in
psi/kilopascal with cold tires.
Cold = ambient temperature
225/45 R 17 94 V M+S XL 29/200 36/250 32/220 38/260 38/260 45/310
225/45 R 17 91 H M+S 29/200 36/250 29/200 36/250 33/230 41/280
Front: 225/45 R 17 91 V 29/200 - 32/220 - 38/260 -
Rear: 255/40 R 17 94 V - 32/220 - 35/240 - 41/280
Front: 225/40 R 18 88 W 32/220 - 35/240 - 38/260 -
Rear: 255/35 R 18 90 W - 36/250 38/260 - 45/310
Front: 225/35 R 19 88 Y XL 36/250 - 35/240 - 38/260
Rear: 255/30 R 19 91 Y XL - 41/280 - 38/260 45/310
More details on the permissible load and weights can be found on page201.

Wheels and tires
176
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 code letter
Q = up to 100 mph or 160 km/h
T = up to 118 mph or 190 km/h
H = up to 131 mph or 210 km/h
V = up to 150 mph or 240 km/h
W = up to 167 mph or 270 km/h
Y = up to 186 mph or 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 … 0705 means that the
tire was manufactured in week 7 of 2005.
BMW recommends that you replace all tires
after 6 years at most, even if some tires may last
for 10 years.
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.< e.g.
Nominal width in mm
Aspect ratio in Ξ
Radial belt construction
Rim diameter in inches
Load rating,
not on ZR tires
Speed code letter, in
front of the R on ZR tires
225/45 R1791 V
e.g.
Manufacturer's code
for tire make
Tire size and
tire design
Tire ageDOT xxxx xxx 0705

Mobility
177Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
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 page178.
M+S
Winter and all-season tires.
These have better winter properties than sum-
mer tires.
XL
Designation for specially reinforced 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 1/8 in/
3 mm, although, for example, European legisla-
tion only specifies a minimum tread depth of 1/16 in/1.6 mm. At tread depths below 1/8 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 1/6 in/4 mm, they become perceptibly less
suitable for winter conditions. For the sake of
safety, new tires should be installed.
Wear indicators in the base of the tread groove
are distributed around the tire's circumference;
the letters TWI, Tread Wear Indicator, on the
tire's sidewalls identify tires that incorporate
these wear indicators. Once the tire tread has
worn down to the wear indicators, the tire has
worn to a depth of 1/16 in/1.6 mm.
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 exam-
ple, be caused by driving over curbs. The same
applies to any other abnormal road behavior,
such as pulling severely to the right or left.
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.<

Mobility
179Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Recommended tire brands
Certain makes of tire are recommended by
BMW for each tire size. They are marked with a
clearly visible BMW designation on the sidewall
of the tire.
When properly used, these tires meet the high-
est standards in terms of safety and handling
characteristics.
Run-Flat Tires
When mounting new tires or changing over
from summer to winter tires and vice versa,
mount Run-Flat Tires for your own safety. In the
event of a flat, moreover, no spare wheel is
available. Your BMW center will be glad to
advise you.
For safety reasons, BMW recommends
that damaged Run-Flat Tires be replaced
rather than repaired.<
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
Always comply with the speed limit for the
winter tires mounted on your car; failure
to do so could result in tire damage and acci-
dents.<
If the car is capable of speeds higher than that
permitted for the winter tires, a label stating the
maximum permitted speed for the mounted
tires must be displayed in your field of view. Specialist tire dealers and your BMW center
can supply these labels.
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 sidewall
of the tire.
Snow chains*
Only certain fine-link snow chains have been
tested by BMW, classified as safe for use and
recommended. Consult your BMW center for
more information. Attach snow chains in pairs
and only to the rear wheels. Observe the manu-
facturer's instructions when mounting snow
chains. Do not exceed a speed of 30 mph or
50 km/h.
You are not permitted to mount snow chains to
tires of the following sizes:
>255/40 R 17
>255/35 R 18
>255/30 R 19
Do not initialize the Flat Tire Monitor if
snow chains are mounted, as the instru-
ment might issue an incorrect reading.
When driving with snow chains, you may find it
helpful to switch on DTC temporarily, refer to
page79.<

Mobility
181Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Engine compartment
1Expansion tank for coolant, refer to
page183
2Vehicle Identification Number
3Washer fluid reservoir for headlamp clean-
ing system and windshield washer system,
refer to page554Jump-starting connection, refer to
page194
5Filler neck for engine oil, refer to Adding
engine oil
6Reservoir for brake fluid, under the cover of
the microfilter
Engine oil
The engine oil consumption is dependent on
driving style and driving conditions.
Checking oil level
Your car is equipped with an electronic oil-level
monitor.
For a precise measurement and display of the
oil level, it is necessary that the engine be at
operating temperature, e.g. after uninterrupted
driving for at least approx. 6.5 miles/10 km. You
can have the oil level displayed while you are
driving, or while the vehicle is at a standstill on a
level surface and the engine is running.
Display in the instrument cluster
1.Lightly push button 1 in the turn indicator
stalk repeatedly up or down until the appro-
priate symbol is shown in the display,
accompanied by the word "OIL".
2.Press button 2 in the turn indicator stalk.
The oil level is checked and the reading dis-
played.