Online Edition for Part no. 01 41 2 604 027 - © 03/10 BMW AG

Care
Care
Car-care products
For the cleaning and care of your vehicle, BMW
recommends using only products that BMW
has approved for this purpose.
Regular cleaning and care make a significant
contribution to retaining your BMW's value.
The BMW Sports Activity Vehicle Center will be
happy to consult you on products and services
for the cleaning and care of your BMW.
Genuine BMW Care Products are materials
tested, laboratory tested, and tested in
actual use. They offer optimum care and protection
for your vehicle.<
Do not use cleaners that contain alcohol
or solvents; they can damage your vehicle.<
Cleaning agents can contain substances
that are dangerous or pose health risks.
You should therefore heed the warnings and
hazard indications on the packaging. Open the
doors or windows on your vehicle whenever
cleaning the interior. Make sure there is sufficient
ventilation in enclosed spaces. Use only
products that are formulated for vehicle cleaning.<
Exterior care
Washing your vehicle
In the winter months, it is especially
important to ensure that the vehicle is
washed on a regular basis. Otherwise, significant
soiling and road salt can cause damage to
the vehicle.<
After washing the vehicle, apply the
brakes briefly to dry them. Failure to do so
may lead to a reduction in braking efficiency and
also to corrosion of the brake rotors.<
Before driving into the car wash, make sure that
it is suitable for your BMW. Pay attention to the
following points:
> Dimensions of your vehicle, refer to
page 281.
> If necessary, fold in exterior mirrors, refer to
page 51.
> Maximum permissible tire width.
Avoid car washes with guide rails higher
than 4 in/10 cm as these may damage
parts of the vehicle body.<
Preparations for driving into the car wash:
> Deactivate the rain sensor to prevent
undesired wiper operation.
> BMW X5: deactivate rear window wiper and
protect it from damage. Take appropriate
protective measures; inquiring with the car
wash operator as needed.
> Remove add-on parts such as spoilers or
phone antennas if they risk being damaged.
Before driving into the car wash, observe the
following so that the vehicle is able to roll:
1. Insert the remote control into the ignition
lock, even with Comfort Access.
2. Shift into transmission position N.
3. Release the parking brake.
4. Deactivate Automatic Hold, refer to
page 61.
5. Switch off the engine.
6. Leave the remote control in the ignition lock
so that the vehicle can roll.
Mixed tires*
Before driving into a car wash, make sure
that the vehicle width is not too large for
the car wash, as otherwise the vehicle and the
car wash could be damaged.<
Car washes
Give preference to cloth car washes.
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