BMW 745Li 2004 E66 Owner's Manual

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745i, 745Li
760Li
Tire sizePressure specifications in psi/kPa
All pressure specifications
in the table are indicated in
psi/kilopascal with cold tires.
Cold = ambient temperature
245/50 R 18 100 V M+S
245/55 R 17 102 W
245/50 R 18 100 W
245/55 R 17 102 Q M+S
245/50 R 18 100 Q M+S32/220 35/240 35/240 42/290
Front: 245/45 R 19 98 W 32/220 - 35/240 -
Rear: 275/40 R 19 101 W - 35/240 - 42/290
Front: 245/40 R 20 95 Y 32/220 - 35/240
Rear: 275/35 R 20 98 Y - 35/240 - 42/290
More details on the permitted load and weights can be found on page 214.
Tire sizePressure specifications in psi/kPa
All pressure specifications
in the table are indicated in
psi/kilopascal with cold tires.
Cold = ambient temperature
245/50 R 18 100 V M+S
245/50 R 18 100 W
245/50 R 18 100 Q M+S35/240 38/260 38/260 42/290
Front: 245/45 R 19 98 Y 35/240 - 38/260 -
Rear: 275/40 R 19 101 Y - 38/260 - 42/290
Front: 245/40 R 20 95 Y 35/240 - 38/260
Rear: 275/35 R 20 98 Y - 38/260 - 42/290
More details on the permitted load and weights can be found on page 214.

Wheels and tires
190
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 rating
Q = up to 105 mph/160 km/h
T = up to 118 mph/190 km/h
H = up to 131 mph/210 km/h
V = up to 150 mph/240 km/h
W = up to 167 mph/270 km/h
Y = up to 186 mph/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 tire's date of manufacture is indicated
on the sidewall:
DOT ... 3603 indicates that the tire was
manufactured in the 36th week of 2003.
Regardless of mileage or wear, BMW rec-
ommends that you replace all tires Ð includ-
ing the spare Ð after a maximum of 6 years, even though the tires may have a theoreti-
cal service life of up to 10 years.
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Quality grades can be found where appli-
cable on the tire sidewall between tread
shoulder and maximum section width.
For example:
Treadwear 200 Traction AA
Temperature A
DOT Quality Grades
Treadwear
Traction AA A B C
Temperature A B C
All passenger car tires must conform
to Federal Safety Requirements in
addition to these grades.<
Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative rat-
ing based on the wear rate of the tire when
tested under controlled conditions on a
specified government test course.
For example, a tire graded 150 would wear
one and one-half Ð 1g Ð 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, however, and may depart significantly
from the norm due to variations in driving
habits, service practices and differences in
road characteristics 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 govern-
ment 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 brak-
ing traction tests, and does not include
acceleration, cornering, hydroplaning, or
peak traction characteristics.< e.g.
Nominal width
in mm
Aspect ratio in X
Radial tire code
Rim diameter in inches
Load rating,
not for ZR tires
Speed rating,
before R on ZR tires
245/45 R19 104 H
e.g.
Manufacturer code
for tire makes
Tire size and tire design
Tire ageDOT xxxx xxx 3603

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Temperature
The temperature grades are A Ð the
highest Ð, 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 Vehicle Safety
Standard No. 109. Grades B and A repre-
sent 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 load-
ing, either separately or in combination,
can cause heat buildup and possible tire
failure.<
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 page 193.
M+S
Winter and all-season tires.
These have better winter properties than
summer 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.
Tire tread
The tread depth should not fall below e in/
3 mm.
At tread depths below e in/3 mm, there is
an increased risk of high-speed hydroplan-
ing, even when only small amounts of
water are present on the road surface.As winter tires display a noticeable loss in
their ability to cope with cold-weather driv-
ing conditions once the tread wears to
below k/K in/4 mm, to ensure continued
safety you should always have such tires
replaced.
Wear indicators at the tread-groove base,
refer to arrow, are distributed over the tire's
circumference and are marked on the side
of the tire with TWI Ð Tread Wear Indicator.
These indicators signal at a tread depth
of k/FK in/1.6 mm that the legally permitted
wear limit has been reached.
Tire damage
Unusual vibrations encountered dur-
ing normal vehicle operation can
indicate tire failure or some other vehicle
defect. This can, for example, be caused
by driving over curbs.
These kinds of problems may also be
signaled by other changes in vehicle
response, such as a strong tendency to
pull to the left or right. Should this occur,
respond by immediately reducing your
speed. Carefully proceed Ð or have your
vehicle towed Ð to the nearest BMW center
or tire dealer to have the wheels or tires
inspected.
Tire damage, extending to sudden and
complete loss of pressure in extreme
cases, can pose a potentially lethal safety
hazard for the vehicle's occupants and
other road users alike.<

Wheels and tires
192
Replacing wheels/tires
Unprofessional attempts by laymen to
service tires can lead to damage and
accidents.
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
specialized equipment.<
The correct wheel and tire combination
affects various systems whose function
would otherwise be impaired, e.g. ABS or
DSC.
Have the wheel and tire assemblies bal-
anced every time either a wheel or a tire is
replaced.
BMW does not recommend the use
of retreaded tires, as otherwise driv-
ing safety may be reduced. Possible varia-
tions in the design and the age Ð which
could be substantial Ð of the carcasses can
lead to unusually rapid wear.<
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 manufacturing tolerances mean that
even wheels and tires with identical official
size ratings could actually have different
dimensions than the approved units Ð these
differences could lead to body contact, and
with it the risk of severe accidents. If non-
approved wheels and tires are used, BMW
cannot evaluate their suitability, and there-
fore cannot be held liable for driving
safety.<
To maintain good handling and vehicle
response, use only tires of a single tread
configuration from a single manufacturer.
After a flat tire, always remember to have
the original wheel and tire combination
remounted on the vehicle as soon as pos-
sible.
Recommended tire brands
BMW tests certain tire brands for each tire
size, classifies them as road-safe and
approves them. You can find out about
these at specialized dealers or at your
BMW center. Observe any country-specific
regulations, e.g. on making a correspond-
ing entry in the vehicle documents.
The factory-mounted tires have been spe-
cially selected to provide optimized perfor-
mance when installed on your vehicle; if
properly cared for, they will provide a com-
bination of safety and excellent ride com-
fort.
Run-flat tires
If your BMW is equipped with run-flat tires,
refer to Run-flat tires, only use these tires,
as in the event of a breakdown there is no
spare wheel available.
Special characteristics of winter
tires
BMW recommends winter tires for use in
cold winter driving conditions. Although
so-called all-season M+S tires provide bet-
ter winter traction than summer tires, they
generally fail to provide the same levels of
cold-weather performance as winter tires.
When switching to winter tires, observe the
description at Tire condition, and Replac-
ing wheels/tires, refer to page 191.
Run-flat tires
If your BMW is equipped with run-flat tires,
refer to Run-flat tires, only use these tires,
as in the event of a breakdown there is no
spare wheel available.
Observing speed ratings
Never exceed the maximum speed
for which the winter tires are rated.
Unprofessional attempts by laymen to ser-
vice tires can lead to damage and acci-
dents. Have this work performed by skilled
professionals only. The technicians at your
BMW center will be glad to assist you with
the required professional knowledge and
specialized equipment.<

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Storage
Always store wheels and tires in a cool, dry
place with as little exposure to light as pos-
sible. Always protect tires against all con-
tact with oil, grease and fuels.
Do not exceed the maximum tire inflation
pressure indicated on the side wall of the
tire.
Run-flat tires*
You will recognize run-flat tires by a circular
symbol containing the letters RSC on the
side of the tire. They consist of self-con-
tained tires and special rims. The tire rein-
forcement ensures that the tire retains
some residual safety in the event of pres-
sure drop and driving remains possible to
a restricted degree.
If you switch from summer to winter
tires, or vice versa, use run-flat tires,
as in the event of a breakdown there is no
spare wheel available. In this case, BMW
recommends that you consult your BMW
center. Your BMW center is qualified to
handle run-flat tires and equipped with the
necessary special tools.<
Continuing driving with a damaged
tire
Driving on run-flat tires can continue,
depending on the vehicle load and the
severity of the tire damage, at a maximum
speed of 50 mph/80 km/h.
In the case of complete inflation pressure
loss, 0 psi/kPa, or obvious tire damage,
you can estimate the possible distance for continued driving on the basis of the fol-
lowing guide values:
>With low load:
1 to 2 persons without luggage:
Approx. 150 miles/250 km
>With medium load:
2 persons, luggage compartment full, or
4 persons without luggage:
Approx. 90 miles/150 km
>With full load:
More than 4 persons, luggage compart-
ment full:
Approx. 30 miles/50 km.
Drive reservedly and do not exceed
a speed of 50 mph/80 km/h. With
inflation pressure loss, the driving charac-
teristics change, for example reduced track
stability on braking, extended braking dis-
tance, and altered self-steering character-
istics.<
Snow chains*
BMW only tests certain snow chains, clas-
sifies them as road-safe and approves
them. Consult your BMW center for more
information. BMW recommends only using
these approved, narrow-link snow chains.
These snow chains are approved exclu-
sively for use in pairs on the rear wheels,
and should only be mounted on tires
with the dimensions 245/50 R 18. Observe
the manufacturer's instructions when
installing snow chains.Do not exceed a
vehicle speed of 30 mph/50 km/h with the
chains mounted.
After mounting snow chains, do not
activate the Flat Tire Monitor.
When you are driving with snow chains, it
can be beneficial to switch off DSC briefly,
refer to page 93.<

Under the hood
194
Under the hood
Hood
Releasing
Pull the lever located under the left side of
the instrument panel.
Never attempt to perform any service
or repair operations on your vehicle
without the required, professional technical
training. When you are unfamiliar with the
service procedures and precautions,
always have any required work carried out
at your BMW center. Otherwise, the incor-
rect handling of parts and materials that
can occur during such attempts constitutes
a potential safety hazard, both for the vehi-
cle's occupants and for other road users.<
Opening
Pull the release handle and open the hood.
Closing
Close the hood from a height of approx.
16 in/40 cm with momentum. It must be
clearly heard to engage.
Observe the same precautions that
apply to all closing operations by
ensuring that the hood's travel range is
clear and unobstructed before allowing the
hood to fall into position.
If you see any signs that the hood is not
completely closed while you are driving
your vehicle, you should stop at once and
close it securely.<

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Engine compartment
1Engine oil dip stick, refer to Checking
oil level
2Brake fluid reservoir, located beneath
the microfilter cover197
3Reservoir for windshield and headlamp
washer system71 4Engine oil filler neck196
5Coolant expansion tank197
6Auxiliary terminal for jump-starting207
Engine oil
Checking oil level
1.Park the vehicle on a level surface
2.Switch the engine off after it has
reached normal operating temperature 3.After approx. 5 minutes, pull the dip-
stick out and wipe it off with a clean lint-
free cloth, paper towel, or similar mate-
rial
4.Carefully push the dipstick all the way
into the guide tube and pull it out again
5.The oil should extend to between the
two marks on the dipstick.
As is the case with fuel economy, the rate
at which the engine uses oil is strongly
influenced by driving style and operating
conditions.

Under the hood
196 The oil quantity between the two marks
of the dipstick is approx. 1.65 US quarts/
1.5 liter. Do not fill beyond the upper mark
on the dipstick. Excess oil can damage the
engine.
Adding engine oil
Wait until the level has dropped to just
above the lower mark or a message
appears in the Check Control before add-
ing oil.
BMW engines are designed to oper-
ate without additives, and their use
could even lead to damage in some cases.
This also applies to the automatic transmis-
sion, the differential and the power steering
system.<
Recommendation: have your oil changed
at your BMW center.
Continuous exposure to used oil has
caused cancer in laboratory testing.
For this reason, any skin areas that come
into contact with oil should be thoroughly
washed with soap and water.
Store oil, grease, etc., well out of the reach
of children; always observe all warning
labels on the containers. and regulations for environmental
protection when disposing of used oil.<
Specified engine oils
The quality of the engine oil selected has
critical significance for the operation and
service life of an engine. BMW approves
only specific oils after confirming their suit-
ability for use in its vehicles with extensive
testing.
Use only approved BMW High Perfor-
mance Synthetic Oil.
If you are unable to obtain BMW High Per-
formance Synthetic Oil, you can add small
amounts of another synthetic oil between
oil changes. Use only oils with the API SH
specification or higher.
Ask your BMW center for details con-
cerning the specific BMW High Per-
formance Synthetic Oil or synthetic oils
which have been approved.<
You can also call BMW of North America
at 1-800-831-1117 or visit this website:
www.bmwusa.com to obtain this informa-
tion.
Viscosity ratings
Viscosity is the oil flow rating as defined in
SAE classes.
The selection of the correct SAE class
depends on the climatic conditions in the
area where you typically drive your BMW.
Approved oils are in SAE classes
5W-40 and 5W-30.<
These oils may be used for driving in all
ambient temperatures.
Coolant
Do not add coolant to the cooling
system when the engine is hot.
Escaping coolant can cause burns.
Antifreeze and anticorrosion agents are
hazardous to health. Always store these
agents in tightly-closed original containers
kept well away from the reach of children.

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Antifreeze and anticorrosion agents are
flammable. Therefore, do not pour over hot
engine parts, as otherwise they could catch
fire and cause burns.
Always observe the instructions for use
provided on the containers.<
Always observe all applicable rules
and regulations for environmental
protection when disposing of used anti-
freeze and anticorrosion agents.<
Checking coolant level
Correct coolant level with the engine cold Ð
approx. +687/206:
1.Turn the cap of the expansion tank
counterclockwise to allow any accumu-
lated pressure to escape, then continue
turning to open
2.The coolant level is correct when the
coolant extends to between the MIN
and MAX marks on the filler neck, refer
to the diagram adjacent to the filler
neck
3.If the coolant is low, slowly add coolant
up to the specified level Ð do not overfill.
Brake fluid
The symbol lights up and a mes-
sage appears in the Check Control:
The brake fluid in the reservoir has
fallen to below the minimum level.
The brake fluid reservoir is located under
the microfilter housing trim panel on the
driver's side of the vehicle. To have brake
fluid added to the system, or to have the source of any brake fluid loss traced and
rectified, please contact your BMW center,
which can also supply the factory-
approved Ð DOT 4 Ð brake fluids.
Brake fluid is hygroscopic: it absorbs
moisture from the atmosphere over
the course of time.
To ensure that the brake system continues
to provide safe and reliable performance,
remember to have the brake fluid changed
every two years at the latest, refer to
page 82 and to the Service and Warranty
Information Booklet for US models or the
Warranty and Service Guide Booklet for
Canadian models.
Brake fluid is toxic and also damages vehi-
cle paintwork. Always store these agents in
tightly-closed original containers kept well
away from the reach of children.
Do not spill the fluid and do not refill the
brake fluid reservoir to beyond the MAX
mark. Should it come into contact with hot
engine components, the brake fluid could
ignite and cause personal injury in the form
of burns.<
Always observe all applicable envi-
ronmental rules and regulations when
disposing of used brake fluid.<
Warning lamp for Canadian models.
Brake hydraulic systems
A low brake-fluid level combined with
longer-than-usual pedal travel could be
a sign that one of the brake system's
hydraulic circuits has failed.
Proceed to the nearest BMW center.
Remember that pedal travel may be
increased, and there may also be a sub-
stantial increase in the amount of pedal
pressure required to brake the vehicle.
Please adapt your driving style accord-
ingly.<

Maintenance
198
Maintenance
The BMW Maintenance
System
The BMW Maintenance System is
designed to ensure that your vehicle will
continue to furnish consistent reliability
combined with optimized safety. The ser-
vice schedule also includes operations
related to the vehicle's comfort and conve-
nience features, such as replacement of
the filters for the inside air. The aim is to
optimize maintenance with regard to
reducing the cost of running the vehicle.
Should the day come when you decide to
sell your BMW, you will find that a complete
dealer service history is an asset of inesti-
mable value.
CBS Condition Based Service
CBS is a more advanced version of the
Service Interval Display. Sensors combine
with highly-specialized algorithms to sup-
ply service information that reflects your
vehicle's actual operating conditions more
precisely than ever before.
The system now furnishes individual dis-
plays of the times remaining until the dead-
lines for specific service operations as well
as official state inspections:
>Engine oil
>Brakes: separate for front and rear
>Microfilter/activated-charcoal filter
>Brake fluid
>Spark plugs >Vehicle check
>Coolant
>Official state inspections.
CBS monitors both current and upcoming
service requirements. After accessing the
data stored in the vehicle's key, your BMW
Service Advisor is able to suggest precisely
the right array of service procedures for
your own individual vehicle.
By letting you define a service and main-
tenance regimen that reflects your own
individual requirements, Condition Based
Service builds the basis for trouble-free
driving.
You can find more detailed information
on the Service Interval Display on page 81.
Service and Warranty Information
Booklet for US models and
Warranty and Service Guide Booklet
for Canadian models
Please consult your Service and Warranty
Information Booklet for US models and
Warranty and Service Guide Booklet for
Canadian models for additional information
on service requirements.
Have service and repair operations
performed at your BMW center.
Take the time to ensure that these service
procedures are confirmed by entries in
your vehicle's Service and Warranty Infor-
mation Booklet for US models and War-
ranty and Service Guide Booklet for Cana-
dian models. These entries verify that your
vehicle has received the specified regular
maintenance, and may also be required
when submitting warranty claims.<
Care
You can find everything you need to know
on this topic by consulting the separate
Caring for your vehicle brochure.