tires BMW 325I SEDAN 2005 E90 User Guide

Wheels and tires
174
Tire inflation pressures for 330i without 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 91 H M+S
225/45 R 17 94 V M+S XL29/200 36/250 29/200 36/250 33/230 41/280
Front: 225/45 R 17 91 V 29/200 - 29/200 - 33/230 -
Rear: 255/40 R 17 94 V - 32/220 - 32/220 - 36/250
Front: 225/40 R 18 88 W 32/220 - 32/220 - 36/250 -
Rear: 255/35 R 18 90 W - 36/250 36/250 - 41/280
Front: 225/35 R 19 88 Y XL 36/250 - 32/220 - 36/250
Rear: 255/30 R 19 91 Y XL - 41/280 - 36/250 41/280
More details on the permissible load and weights can be found on page201.

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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

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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.<

Wheels and tires
178
Servicing tires
Unprofessional attempts by laymen to
service tires can lead to damage and acci-
dents. Have this work performed by skilled pro-
fessionals only. The technicians at your BMW
center will be glad to assist you with the
required professional knowledge and special-
ized equipment.<
Tire age
For various reasons, such as the development
of brittleness, BMW recommends tire replace-
ment after no more than 6 years, regardless of
the actual wear of the tires.
The manufacturing date of tires is contained in
the tire coding:
DOT ... 0705 means that the tire was manufac-
tured in week 07 of 2005.
Run-Flat Tires
The symbol identifying Run-Flat Tires is a circle
with the letters RSC on the sidewall.
Run-Flat Tires comprise a conditionally self-
supporting tire and a special rim. The reinforce-
ment in the sidewalls ensures that the tire can
continue to be used subject to certain restric-
tions, even if depressurized.
For information on continuing to drive with a flat
tire, refer to Indication of a flat tire, page81.
New wheels and tires
Have new wheels and tires installed only
by your BMW center or tire shop that
works according to BMW repair procedures with correspondingly trained personnel. If this
work is not carried out properly, there is a dan-
ger of subsequent damage and related safety
hazards. Make sure that the new wheels are bal-
anced.<
Retreaded tires
BMW recommends that you do not use
retreaded tires, since driving safety may
be impaired. The causes for this include poten-
tially different tire casing structures and often
wide variations in tire age, which can result in a
limited service life.<
The right wheels and tires
BMW recommends that you use only
wheel and tire combinations that BMW
has tested and approved for your particular
vehicle. Variations in factors such as manufac-
turing tolerances mean that even wheels and
tires with identical official size ratings could
actually have different dimensions, which could
lead to body contact and thus to severe acci-
dents. If non-approved wheels and tires are
used, BMW cannot evaluate their suitability,
and therefore cannot guarantee their driving
safety.<
You can inquire about the right wheel/tire com-
bination at your BMW center.
The correct combination of wheels and tires is
also necessary to ensure reliable operation of
various vehicle systems such as ABS and DSC.
To maintain good handling and vehicle
response, use only tires of a single brand and
tread configuration. After a tire has been dam-
aged, mount the previous wheel and tire combi-
nation again as soon as possible.

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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.<

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according to BMW repair procedures with cor-
respondingly trained personnel.
Light-emitting diodes LEDs
Light-emitting diodes installed behind translu-
c e n t l e n s e s s e r v e a s t h e l i g h t s o u r c e f o r m a n y o f
the controls and displays in your vehicle. These
light-emitting diodes, which operate using a
concept similar to that applied in conventional
lasers, are officially designated as Class 1 light-
emitting diodes.
Do not remove the covers or expose the
eyes directly to the unfiltered light source
for several hours at a time, as this could cause
irritation to the retina.<
Changing wheels
Your BMW is equipped with Run-Flat Tires as
standard. This removes the need to change a
wheel immediately in the event of a puncture.
The symbol identifying Run-Flat Tires is a circle
with the letters RSC on the sidewall, refer to
Run-Flat Tires, page178.
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. Refer also to New wheels and tires,
page178.
The tools for changing wheels are avail-
able as optional accessories from your
BMW center.<
Jack mounting points
The jacking points are at the positions shown in
the illustration.
Vehicle battery
Battery care
The battery is 100 % maintenance-free, the
electrolyte will last for the life of the battery
when the vehicle is operated in a temperate cli-
mate. Your BMW center will be glad to advise in
all matters concerning the battery.
Charging battery
Only charge the battery in the vehicle via the
terminals in the engine compartment with the
engine off. Connections, refer to Jump starting
on page194.
Disposal
Have old batteries disposed of by your
BMW center or hand them in to a recy-
cling center. Maintain the battery in an upright
position for transport and storage. Always
secure the battery against tipping over during
transport.<
Power failure
After a temporary power loss, the functioning of
some equipment may be limited and require
reinitialization. Individual settings may likewise
have been lost and will have to be repro-
grammed:
>Time and date
These values must be updated, refer to
page71.

Everything from A - Z
206
Everything from A - Z
Index
"..." Identifies Control Display
texts used to select
individual functions and
refers you to the page where
these texts can be found.
A
ABS Antilock Brake
System78
ACC, refer to Active cruise
control57
Accessories, refer to The
individual vehicle5
Activated-charcoal filter for
automatic climate control92
Active cruise control57
– indicator lamps60
– malfunction61
– selecting distance59
– sensor61
Active steering81
– initializing the system82
– warning lamp82
Adaptive Head Light86
"Add digits" for portable
phone155
Additives
– coolant183
"Address book" in
navigation121
Address for navigation
– deleting122
– entering115
– selecting121
– storing current position121
"Add to destination list"118
Adjusting the temperature
with automatic climate
control90
Adjusting the tone during
audio operation, refer to
Tone control135Adjustment in audio mode
– front-to-rear135
– right/left balance135
Airbags82
– sitting safely38
– warning lamp84
Air distribution
– automatic90
– individual90
Air flow rate91
Airing, refer to Ventilation92
Air pressure, tires170
Air recirculation, refer to
Recirculated-air mode91
"Air recirculation on / off"45
Air vents89
AKI, refer to Fuel
specifications168
Alarm system34
– avoiding unintentional
alarms35
– interior motion sensor35
– switching off an alarm34
– tilt alarm sensor35
"All channels"
142
All-season tires, refer to
Winter tires179
"All stations", calling up on
radio138
"AM", waveband134,138
AM, waveband138
Ambient air, refer to
Recirculated-air mode91
Antenna for portable
phone152
Antifreeze
– coolant183
– washer fluid55
Antilock Brake System ABS
– indicator lamp79
Anti-theft alarm system, refer
to Alarm system34
Anti-theft system29Anti-trapping mechanism
– glass sunroof, electric37
– windows35
Approved axle loads, refer to
Weights201
Approved gross vehicle
weight, refer to Weights201
Armrest, refer to Center
armrest96
Arrival time
– computer66
– destination guidance125
"Arrow display" in
navigation126
Ashtray98
Assist, refer to BMW
Assist160
Assistance systems, refer to
Dynamic Stability Control
DSC78
Assistance window20
AUC Automatic recirculated-
air control91
Audio134
– controls134
– switching on/off134
– tone control135
– volume135
"Audio Aux"134
Audio device, external97
"Audio" tone settings135
"Auto. headlamps"85
Automatic
– air distribution90
– air flow rate90
– cruise control55,57
– headlamp control85
– service notification161
– storing of stations139
Automatic climate control89
– automatic air distribution90
– settings via iDrive90
Automatic curb monitor44

Reference 211
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Mobility
Eyes
– for tow-starting and towing
away195
– for tying down loads109
F
Fader, tone control135
Failure messages, refer to
Check Control73
Failure of an electrical
consumer192
False alarm, refer to Avoiding
unintentional alarms35
Fastening safety belts, refer to
Safety belts43
Fastest route for
navigation123
Fast forward
– CD changer147
– CD player147
"Fast route" in navigation123
Filter
– refer to Microfilter/activated-
charcoal filter for automatic
climate control92
First-aid kit193
Fixture for remote control,
refer to Ignition lock49
Flashlight, refer to
Rechargeable flashlight96
Flash when locking/
unlocking31
Flat
– Run-Flat Tires178
Flat Tire Monitor
– snow chains179
Flat Tire Monitor FTM80
– indicating a flat tire81
– initializing the system80
– malfunction81
– system limits80
Flat tires, refer to Tire
condition177
"FM", waveband134,138
FM, waveband138
Fog lamps87
– indicator lamp13,87Footbrake, refer to Braking
safely107
Footwell lamps87
Front airbags82
Front seat adjustment39
"FTM"81
FTM, refer to Flat Tire
Monitor80
Fuel168
– display65
– high-quality brands168
– quality168
– specifications168
– tank capacity201
Fuel clock, refer to Fuel
gauge65
Fuel consumption, refer to
Average fuel
consumption66
Fuel display, refer to Fuel
gauge65
Fuel filler door168
– releasing in the event of
electrical malfunction168
Fuses192
G
Garage door opener, refer to
Integrated universal remote
control93
Gasoline, refer to Required
fuel168
Gasoline display, refer to Fuel
gauge65
Gasoline engine, checking oil
level181
Gear indicator, for automatic
transmission51
Gearshift lever
– automatic transmission with
Steptronic52
– manual transmission51
Gearshifts
– with automatic
transmission52
– with manual transmission51
General driving notes106Glass sunroof, electric36
– anti-trapping mechanism37
– closing after electrical
malfunction37
– convenient operation30,31
– opening, closing36
– raising36
– remote control30
Glove compartment96
– rechargeable flashlight96
GPS navigation, refer to
Navigation system114
Grills89
Gross vehicle weight, refer to
Weights201
H
Halogen lamps
– replacing bulbs188
Handbrake51
– indicator lamp51
Hand lamp, refer to
Rechargeable flashlight96
Hands-free system14,152
Hazard warning flashers14
Head airbags82
Headlamp control,
automatic85
Headlamp cover188
Headlamp flasher53
– indicator lamp11,13
Headlamps
– care, refer to Caring for your
vehicle brochure
– replacing bulbs188
Head restraints40
– sitting safely38
Heated
– mirrors44
– rear window92
– seats41
Heating
– mirrors44
– seats41
Heating while at a standstill,
refer to Using residual
heat91

Reference 213
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Mobility
"Lighting"85,86
Lighting
– instruments87
– lamps and bulbs187
– of the vehicle, refer to
Lamps85
Light switch85
"Limit"75
Limit, refer to Speed limit75
Loading
– securing cargo109
Load securing equipment,
refer to Securing cargo109
Location
– drive for navigation DVD and
audio CD114
Lock buttons in the doors,
refer to Locking32
Locking
– adjusting confirmation
signal31
– from inside32
– from outside30
Locking and unlocking doors
– from inside32
– from outside30
"LOGIC7", refer to Tone
control136
Low beams85
– automatic85
– replacing bulbs188
Lower back support, refer to
Lumbar support39
Luggage compartment
– capacity201
– lamp87
– lid32
– opening from inside33
– opening from outside33
– volume201
Luggage compartment lid32
– locking or unlocking
separately33
– opening and closing33
– opening from inside33
– opening from outside33
– unlocking with remote
control30Luggage compartment net,
refer to Securing cargo109
Luggage rack, refer to Roof-
mounted luggage rack109
Lumbar support39
LW, waveband138
M
M+S tires, refer to Winter
tires179
Maintenance, refer to Service
Booklet
Maintenance system185
Malfunction warnings, refer to
Check Control73
Manual mode of automatic
transmission52
"Manual"
on the radio139
Manual operation
– door lock31
– glass sunroof37
– transmission lock, automatic
transmission53
Manual release
– fuel filler door168
Manual transmission51
Map
– changing scale127
– destination entry118
"Map direction of travel"127
"Map facing north"127
Master key, refer to Integrated
key/remote control28
Maximum cooling90
Maximum speed
– for winter tires179
Menus, refer to iDrive16
Microfilter
– BMW Maintenance
System185
– for automatic climate
control92
Microfilter/activated-charcoal
filter
– BMW Maintenance
System185Microphone
– for hands-free system152
Microphone for telephone14
Mirror dimming feature107
Mirrors43
– automatic curb monitor44
– exterior mirrors43
– heating44
– interior rearview mirror44
"Missed calls"155
Missed calls155
Modifications, technical, refer
to For your own safety5
Monitor, refer to iDrive
controls16
Monitoring system for tire
pressures, refer to Flat Tire
Monitor80
"Monitor on / off"45
Most recent portable phone
numbers155
Multifunction switch
– refer to Turn signals/
headlamp flasher53
– refer to Wiper system
54
Music track
– finding146
"Mute on / off"45
N
"Navigation"115
Navigation address
– home address122
Navigation destination
– manual entry115
– selecting via map118
Navigation drive, location114
Navigation DVD114