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EnglishOperation, care and maintenance -> Caring for your car for your BMW 7 Series 2001-2007
Caring for your car
155n
Vehicles with rain sensor*:
When cleaning the headlamps,
please observe the following:
Washing your car
Clean the windshield regularly. Wax
from automatic car washes or insects,
for example, can cause malfunctions in
the function of the rain sensor.
You can have your new BMW washed
in an automatic car wash. Car wash
systems that do not employ brushes
are preferable.
> Do not clean by wiping with a dry
cloth (this causes scratches). Never
use abrasives or strong solvents to
clean the covers
Wipe away tough dirt and loosen and
remove dead insects before washing
the car.
Turn the rain sensor off in auto-
matic car washes. If you do not,
damage may occur if the wipers switch
on unintentionally.<
> Remove dirt and contamination (such
as insects) by soaking with BMW Car
Shampoo and then rinsing with plenty
of water
To prevent spots, avoid washing when
the hood is still warm, or immediately
after and during exposure to strong
sunlight.
> Always use a deicer spray to remove
accumulated ice and snow – never
use a scraper.<
Parts of the car that are inaccessible 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:
After washing the car, apply the
brakes briefly to dry them. Braking
In the winter months, it is especially im-
> The car wash system is suited for the
dimensions of your vehicle
portant to ensure that the car is washed efficiency might otherwise be reduced
on a regular basis. Large quantities of by the moisture, and the brake rotors
dirt and road salt are difficult to remove, could also be corroded.<
> No damage will occur on vehicles
with attached body accessories (such
as spoilers or antennas). If you are
uncertain, consult the manager of the
car wash
and they also cause damage to the ve-
hicle.
If spray wands or high-pressure
washers are used, be sure to
> 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.
maintain an adequate distance between
the spray source and the vehicle's sur-
face.
Inadequate distance and excessive
pressure can damage or weaken the
finish, making it more susceptible to
subsequent attack. In addition, mois-
ture could penetrate to vehicle compo-
nents, leading to long-term damage.<
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156nCaring for your car
Depending upon material and type of In coastal regions, high levels of atmo-
impact (perforation of paint layer), phys- spheric salt and humidity promote cor-
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.
ical stresses from sand, road salt,
gravel, etc., can cause corrosion to
start extending beneath the finish, start-
ing at the point of impact.
rosion.
In tropical zones, temperatures of over
1057 (406) in the shade prevail, in
addition to heavy ultraviolet radiation
and high humidity. Under those circum-
Road dirt, tar spots, dead insects, ani-
mal droppings (strong alkali effect) and stances, light exterior finishes reach
temperatures of up to 175 7 (806)
A layer of flexible PVC is first applied to tree excretions (resins and pollen) all
the undercarriage. Following this, a
comprehensive undercoating treat-
ment with a wax-based protectant is
applied.
contain substances capable of causing and dark finishes up to 250 7 (1206).
damage when allowed to remain on the
finish of your car for any period of time
(spots, etching, flaking, separation in
Regular maintenance makes an impor-
tant contribution to maintaining the
safety and value of your vehicle.
the top coat).
In industrial areas, deposits of flue dust,
lime, oily soot, precipitation containing
sulfur-dioxide (acid rain) and other envi-
ronmental pollutants will damage the
Increasing awareness of the effects of
harmful environmental factors on a ve-
hicle's exterior finish have led paint and car's finish unless adequate care is pro-
vehicle manufacturers to initiate pro-
grams designed to further improve the
vided – even though this is generally
limited to the outside horizontal sur-
durability of their finishes. Despite this, faces.
environmental factors that occur locally
or regionally can have negative effects
on the finish of your vehicle. These
should guide you in determining the fre-
quency and extent of your efforts to
maintain the vehicle finish.
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Caring for your car
157n
Caring for the vehicle finish
Waxing your car
Paint damage
Regular washing is a preventive mea-
sure against long-term effects from
substances that are harmful to the vehi-
cle's finish, especially if you drive your
vehicle in areas with high levels of air
pollution or aggressive natural sub-
stances (tree resins, pollen).
Protect the finish using carnauba or
synthetic-based waxes only.
You can touch up small areas of dam-
age with BMW spray paint or a BMW
touch-up stick.
The best way to determine when the
finish needs to be waxed is by noting
when water stops beading on the sur-
face.
The color code of your vehicle is lo-
cated on a tag near the vehicle's data
plate and on the first page of the Ser-
vice and Warranty Information Booklet
(US models) or of the Warranty and
Service Guide Booklet (Canadian mod-
els).
You can use a glass cleaner to remove
any wax or silicone that may have been
left on the windows during waxing.
Nevertheless, you should immediately
remove especially aggressive sub-
stances. 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.
All of these substances cause damage
to the finish.
Use cleaning and car-care prod-
ucts 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 form-
ing.
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 ap-
plying a wax preservative.
Any contamination remaining on the
surface of the vehicle will be especially
conspicuous after washing. Use clean-
ing 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.
More extensive paint damage should
be repaired professionally in accor-
dance with the manufacturer's instruc-
tions. Your BMW center uses original
BMW finish materials in accordance
with approved repair procedures.
Use cleaning and car-care prod-
ucts that you can obtain at your
BMW center.<
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158nCaring for your car
Please observe the following pre- Clean the wiper blades with soapy
Window care
cautions pertaining to this film
when caring for the interior glass sur-
faces:
water. The wiper blades should be
replaced twice a year, before and after
the cold season. This is especially im-
portant for vehicles with a rain sensor.
You can use window and glass cleaner
to clean interior window surfaces and
mirrors without streaking. Never use
polishing pastes or abrasive (quartz)
cleansers on mirror lenses.
> The film is not scratch-resistant. For
this reason, do not touch the glass
with sharp objects which could dam-
age the film
Use only wiper blades approved
by BMW.<
Break-resistant security glass
> Clean the glass with clean water. If
necessary, you may also use regular
household window cleaners. Wipe
the cleaner off immediately.
The glass used for the side windows is
designed to provide resistance to
breakage and protection against van-
dalism. These break-resistant windows
contain several layers of a transparent
plastic film which is sandwiched be-
tween the inner and outer glass panes.
There is also one additional plastic film
on the inside of the glass pane (facing
the passenger compartment). This film
prevents shards of glass from spread-
ing into the passenger compartment if
the window is shattered.
Do not use window cleaners contain-
ing solvents or abrasives. These
cleaners can mar the film
> Do not apply any self-adhering de-
cals, adhesive labels or other stickers
with tape to the inner window surface
> Do not apply colored films to the in-
side surfaces of the side windows
> If the windows are fogged or iced
over in cold or humid climates, do not
use an ice scraper or ice-removing
sprays to clean them. Start the en-
gine and refer to the instructions for
defrosting the door windows.<
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Caring for your car
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The safety belts should be cleaned with
a mild soap and water solution without
being removed from the car. Never at-
tempt chemical or dry cleaning, as
damage to the belt fabric could result.
Caring for other vehicle
components and materials
Leather care
The leather upholstery used by BMW is
a natural product of the highest quality,
processed using state-of-the-art meth-
ods to ensure that it will maintain its
high quality for years to come, provided
that it is properly cared for.
Light-alloy wheels should be treated
with alloy wheel cleaner, especially dur-
ing the winter months. However, do not
use aggressive products containing ac- After cleaning, never allow the inertia
ids, strong alkalis or abrasives. Do not
use steam cleaners operating at tem-
peratures above 140 7 (60 6). Follow
the manufacturer's instructions.
reel to retract the belts until they are
completely dry. Dirty safety belts pre-
vent the inertia reel mechanism from re-
tracting the strap properly, and thus
constitute a safety hazard.
Because this product is manufactured
using natural materials, you must make
allowance for its special characteristics
as well as for the peculiarities of its use
and care.
If your vehicle has chromed parts* such
as window moldings, door handles or
Heavily soiled floor carpets and mats*
other parts, clean these parts especially can be cleaned with an interior cleaner.
carefully with ample clean water, espe- The floor mats can be removed from
Regular periodic cleaning and care are
essential, as dust and road dirt act as
abrasives in the pores and creases of
the material. This leads to wear spots
cially if they have an accumulation of
road salt. You may wish to add a car
shampoo supplement to the water. Use
a chrome polish for an additional treat-
ment.
the vehicle for cleaning.
Please use only a damp cloth to clean
wooden fascia panels and components. and premature brittleness on the sur-
Follow up by drying with a soft cloth.
face of the leather. We therefore sug-
gest that you clean the leather with a
vacuum cleaner or dust cloth at fre-
quent intervals.
Plastic components, vinyl upholstery,
headliners, lamp lenses, the clear cover
of the instrument panel and compo-
nents with a sprayed dull black surface
can be cleaned with water (add plastic
cleaner as required). Do not allow mois-
ture to soak through the seats or head-
liner. Never use solvents such as lac-
quer thinner, heavy-duty grease
Use cleaning and car-care prod-
ucts that you can obtain at your
BMW center. <
For cleaning, use BMW leather cleaning
foam.
remover, fuels, etc.
Rubber components should be cleaned
with water only; a rubber treatment or
silicone spray may also be applied.
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160nCaring for your car
Since dirt and grease gradually attack
the protective layer of the leather, the
cleaned surfaces should be treated
Cleaning agents can contain sub-
stances that are dangerous or
pose health risks. Therefore, always
with BMW leather care agent. This also comply with the warnings and danger
acts as an antistatic agent.
notices on the package.
Open the doors or windows on your ve-
hicle when cleaning the interior. Never
clean your vehicle with solvents or
other materials not specifically intended
for this application.<
For protection against dampness or
moisture, treat the leather with a BMW
impregnating agent.
We recommend that you perform this
procedure twice a year on leather ex-
posed to normal use.
Spills should be wiped up immediately.
Remove grease and oil stains without
rubbing by carefully dabbing with a
cloth soaked in spot remover.
If the upholstery is to be exposed to in-
tense sunlight or if the vehicle is to be
stored for an extended period, cover all
leather surfaces (or, better yet, the win-
dows) to prevent fading.
Online Edition for Part No. 01 41 0 004 597 - © 08/99 BMW Group
