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EnglishOperation, care and maintenance -> Caring for your vehicle for your BMW 5 Series 1995-2003
Caring for your vehicle
145n
Have your BMW center perform
maintenance and repairs.
Vehicles with rain sensor*:
Clean the windshield regularly. Wax
Washing your vehicle
You can have your new BMW washed
in an automatic car wash. Car wash
systems that do not employ brushes
are preferable.
Your BMW center is always informed on
the latest maintenance work and repair
techniques and equipped with the
required special tools. In addition,
checking parts known from experience
to be subject to wear is a permanent
part of the maintenance specifications.
Be sure that all maintenance work is
confirmed in the Service and Warranty
Information Booklet (US models) or the
Warranty and Service Guide Booklet
(Canadian models). These entries are
your proof that the vehicle has received
regular maintenance. They are also a
requirement for warranty claims.<
from automatic car washes or insects,
for example, can cause malfunctions in
the function of the rain sensor.
Wipe away tough dirt and loosen and
remove dead insects before washing
the vehicle.
Deactivate the rain sensor in auto-
matic car washes. If you do not,
damage may occur if the wipers switch
on unintentionally.<
To prevent spots, do not wash the
vehicle when the hood is still warm, or
immediately after and during exposure
to strong sunlight.
Parts of the vehicle that are inacces-
sible to the automatic washer – such as
door sills, door and hood edges, etc. –
should be cleaned by hand.
When using an automatic car wash, be
sure that:
In the winter months, it is especially
important to be sure that the vehicle is
washed on a regular basis. Large quan-
tities of dirt and road salt are difficult to
remove, and they also cause damage to
the vehicle.
> The car wash system is suited for the
dimensions of your vehicle.
> No damage will occur on vehicles
with attached body accessories (such
as spoilers or antennas). Consult the
car wash operator if necessary.
> The wheels and tires of your vehicle
cannot be damaged by the convey-
ance devices of the car wash system.
> The vehicle is cleaned with minimum
brush pressure, and that ample water
is available for washing and rinsing.
146nCaring for your vehicle
If spray wands or high-pressure
washers are used, be sure to
maintain an adequate distance between Braking efficiency might otherwise be
After washing the vehicle, apply
the brakes briefly to dry them.
Exterior finish
To provide effective corrosion protec-
tion, multilayer paintwork is applied at
the factory. Cataphoretic immersion
priming techniques are supplemented
using special body-cavity protectants,
with the application of specially-devel-
oped and extensively tested materials.
A layer of flexible PVC is first applied
to the undercarriage. Following this, a
comprehensive undercoating treat-
ment with a wax-based protectant is
applied. Regular maintenance makes
an important contribution to maintaining
the safety and value of your vehicle.
the spray source and the vehicle's
surface. Inadequate distance and
excessive pressure can damage or
weaken the finish, making it more
susceptible to subsequent attack. In
addition, moisture could penetrate to
vehicle components, leading to long-
term damage.<
reduced by the moisture and the brake
rotors could also be corroded.<
When cleaning the headlamps,
please observe the following:
> Do not wipe dry (scratches). Never
use abrasives or strong solvents to
clean the covers.
Increasing awareness of the effects
of harmful environmental factors on
vehicle finishes have led paint and
vehicle manufacturers to initiate
ongoing programs designed to further
improve the durability of their finishes.
Despite this, environmental factors that
occur locally or regionally can have
negative effects on the finish of your
vehicle. These should guide you in
determining the frequency and extent
of your efforts to maintain the vehicle
finish.
> Remove dirt and contamination (such
as insects) by soaking with BMW Car
Shampoo and then rinsing with plenty
of water.
> Always use a deicer spray to remove
accumulated ice and snow – never
use a scraper.<
Caring for your vehicle
147n
Depending upon material and type
of impact (perforation of paint layer),
physical stresses from sand, road salt,
gravel, etc., can cause corrosion to start
extending beneath the finish, starting at
the point of impact.
In coastal regions, high levels of atmo-
spheric salt and humidity promote
corrosion.
Caring for the vehicle finish
Regular washing is a preventive
measure against long-term effects from
In tropical zones, temperatures of over substances that are harmful to the
105 7 (40 6) in the shade prevail, in
addition to heavy ultraviolet radiation
and high humidity. Under those condi-
tions, light paints can reach tempera-
tures up to 175 7 (80 6) and dark
paints up to 250 7 (120 6).
vehicle's finish, especially if you drive
your vehicle in areas with high levels of
air pollution or aggressive natural
substances (tree resins, pollen).
Road dirt, tar spots, dead insects,
animal droppings (strong alkali effect)
and tree excretions (resins and pollen)
all contain substances capable of
causing damage if they are allowed to
remain on the finish of your vehicle for
any period of time (spots, etching,
flaking, separation in the top coat).
Nevertheless, you should immediately
remove especially aggressive
substances. Failure to do so can lead to
changes in the paint's chemical struc-
ture or to discoloration. Gasoline spilled
during refueling, oil, grease and brake
fluid should always be cleaned away
immediately, as should bird droppings
(finish damage).
In industrial areas, deposits of flue dust,
lime, oily soot, precipitation containing
sulfur-dioxide (acid rain) and other envi-
ronmental pollutants will damage the
vehicle's finish unless adequate care is
provided – even though this is generally
limited to the outside horizontal
surfaces.
Any contamination remaining on the
surface of the vehicle will be especially
conspicuous after washing. Use
cleaning fluid or alcohol with a clean
cloth or cotton pad to remove. Remove
tar spots with tar remover. After
cleaning, the affected areas should be
waxed to ensure continued protection.
Use cleaning and car-care
products that you can obtain
at your BMW center.<
148nCaring for your vehicle
Waxing your vehicle
Paint damage
Window care
Protect the finish using carnauba or
synthetic-based waxes only.
You can touch up small areas of paint
damage with a BMW spray paint or a
BMW touchup stick.
You an use window and glass cleaner
to clean inside window surfaces and
mirrors without smearing and streaking.
Never use polishing pastes or abrasive
(quartz) cleansers on mirror lenses.
The best way to determine when the
finish needs to be waxed is by noting
when water stops beading on the
surface.
The paint color code for your vehicle is
provided on a sticker located on the
right hand side under the hood and on
the first page the Service and Warranty
Information Booklet (US models) or of
the Warranty and Service Guide
When caring for break-resistant
security glass*, observe the
following instructions:
You can use a glass cleaner to remove
any wax or silicone that may have been
left on the windows during waxing.
The inner surface of the side windows
is coated with a plastic film. For this
reason, do not affix any decals or adhe-
sive stickers on the inside of these
windows unless they are to be placed
there permanently. Wash the glass with
clean water. If necessary, you may add
a commercially-available mild house-
hold cleaner. Do not use abrasive
cleaners. If the windows are fogged or
iced over, treat them with an anti-
misting cloth or a deicer spray – do not
use an ice scraper.<
Booklet (Canadian models).
Use cleaning and car-care
products that you can obtain
at your BMW center.<
Damage caused by flying stones,
scratches, etc., must be touched up
without delay to prevent rust from
forming.
If corrosion has started to form in an
area with paint damage, remove all rust
and clean the area. Then prime the area
with a BMW Primer Stick. Finally, apply
the finish coat. Wait a few days, then
polish the repaired area. Finish by
applying a wax preservative.
More extensive paint damage should
be professionally repaired in accor-
dance with the manufacturer's instruc-
tions. Your BMW center uses original
BMW finish materials in accordance
with factory-approved repair proce-
dures.
Caring for your vehicle
149n
Rubber components should be cleaned
Clean the wiper blades with soapy
water. The wiper blades should be
replaced twice a year, before and after
the cold season.
Caring for other vehicle
components and materials
with water only; a rubber treatment or
silicone spray may also be applied.
Light-alloy wheels should be treated
with alloy wheel cleaner, especially
The safety belts should be cleaned with
during the winter months. However, do a mild soap and water solution without
not use aggressive products containing being removed from the vehicle. Never
Use only wiper blades approved
by BMW. <
acids, strong alkalis or abrasives. Do
not use steam cleaners operating at
temperatures above 140 7 (60 6).
Follow the manufacturer's instructions.
attempt chemical or dry cleaning, as
damage to the belt fabric could result.
After cleaning, never allow the inertia
reel to retract the belts until they are
If your vehicle has chrome parts* such completely dry. Dirty safety belts
as the window frames and door handles, prevent the inertia reel mechanism from
clean these parts carefully with ample
clean water after driving on roads that
have been salted. Add a shampoo
supplement if desired. Use chrome
polish as an additional treatment.
retracting the strap properly, and thus
constitute a safety hazard.
Heavily soiled floor carpets and mats*
can be cleaned with an interior cleaner.
The floor mats can be removed from
the vehicle for cleaning.
Plastic components, vinyl upholstery,
headliners, lamp lenses, the clear cover
of the instrument cluster and compo-
nents with a sprayed dull black surface
can be cleaned with water (add plastic
shampoo as required). Do not allow
moisture to soak through the seats or
headliner. Never use solvents such as
lacquer thinner, heavy-duty grease
remover, fuels, etc.
Please use only a damp cloth to clean
wooden fascia panels and components.
Follow up by drying with a soft cloth.
Use cleaning and car-care
products that you can obtain
at your BMW center.<
150nCaring for your vehicle
Since dirt and grease gradually attack
the protective layer of the leather, the
cleaned surfaces should be treated
Cleaning agents can contain
substances that are dangerous
or pose health risks. For this reason,
Leather care
The leather upholstery* used by BMW
is a natural product of the highest
with BMW leather care agent. This also always read and comply with the
acts as an antistatic agent.
quality, processed using state-of-the-
art methods to ensure that it will main-
tain its high quality for years to come,
provided that it is properly cared for.
warnings and danger notices on the
package.
For protection against dampness or
moisture, treat the leather with a BMW
impregnating agent.
Open the doors or windows on your
vehicle when cleaning the interior.
Never clean your vehicle with solvents
or other materials not specifically
intended for this application.<
Because this product is manufactured
using natural materials, you must make We recommend that you perform this
allowance for its special characteristics procedure twice a year on leather
as well as for the peculiarities of its use exposed to normal use.
and care.
Spills should be wiped up immediately.
Regular periodic cleaning and care are
If the upholstery will be exposed to
essential, as dust and road dirt act as
intense sunlight or if the vehicle is to be
abrasives in the pores and creases of
stored for an extended period, cover all
the material. This leads to wear spots
leather surfaces (or better yet, cover the
and premature brittleness on the
surface of the leather. We therefore
suggest that you clean the leather with
windows) to prevent fading.
Use cleaning and car-care
a vacuum cleaner or dust cloth at
products that you can obtain
frequent intervals.
at your BMW center.<
For cleaning use BMW leather cleaning
foam.
