Mobility -> Care for your BMW X1 2009-2015
Care
Mobility
Care
Washing in automatic car washes
Vehicle equipment
Give preference to cloth car washes or those
that use soft brushes in order to avoid paint
damage.
This chapter describes all series equipment as
well as country-specific and special equipment
offered for this model series.Therefore, it also
describes equipment that may not be found in
your vehicle, for instance due to the selected
special equipment or the country version. This
also applies to safety-related functions and sys‐
tems.
Notes
Note the following:
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Make sure that the wheels and tires are not
damaged by the transport mechanisms.
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Fold in the exterior mirrors; otherwise, they
may be damaged, depending on the width of
the vehicle.
Car washes
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Deactivate the rain sensor, refer to page 60,
to avoid unintentional wiper activation.
Notes
Steam jets or high-pressure washers
Move the rear window wiper to its resting
position, deactivate it, and protect it against
damage. Ask the car wash operator about
any necessary protective measures.
When using steam jets or high-pressure
washers, hold them a sufficient distance away
and use a maximum temperature of
140 ℉/60 ℃.
▷
Remove additional attachments, for in‐
stance a spoiler or telephone antenna, if
there is a risk that these may be damaged.
Holding them too close or using excessively
high pressures or temperatures can cause dam‐
age or preliminary damage that may then lead to
long-term damage.
Guide rails in car washes
Avoid car washes with guide rails higher
Follow the operating instructions for the high-
pressure washer.◀
than 4 in/10 cm; otherwise, the vehicle body
could be damaged.◀
Cleaning sensors/cameras with high-
pressure washers
Before driving into a car wash
When using high-pressure washers, do not
spray the exterior sensors and cameras, for Park
Distance Control or the backup camera, for in‐
stance, for extended periods of time and only
from a distance of at least 12 in/30 cm.◀
The vehicle is able to roll if the following steps
are taken.
Automatic transmission
1. Insert the remote control into the ignition
lock, even with Comfort Access.
Wash your vehicle frequently, particularly in win‐
ter.
2. Engage the selector lever or transmission
position N.
Intense soiling and road salt can damage the ve‐
hicle.
3. Release the handbrake, refer to page 58.
4. Switch the engine off.
5. Leave the remote control in the ignition lock
so that the vehicle can roll.
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Mobility
Care
In 8-gear automatic transmissions, transmis‐
sion position P is engaged automatically.
Vehicle paint
Regular care contributes to driving safety and
value retention. Environmental influences in
areas with high air pollution or natural contami‐
nants, such as tree resin or pollen, can have an
impact on the vehicle paint. Tailor the frequency
and extent of your car care to these influences.
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Automatically after approx. 30 minutes.
When the remote control is removed from
the ignition lock.
Headlamps
Immediately remove aggressive substances,
such as spilled fuel, oil, grease, or bird drop‐
pings, to prevent damage to or discoloration of
the paintwork.
▷
Do not rub dry and do not use abrasive or
caustic cleansers.
▷
Soak areas that have been soiled e.g. due to
insects, with shampoo and wash off with
water.
Leather care
Remove dust from the leather often, using a
cloth or vacuum cleaner.
▷
Thaw ice with de-icing spray; do not use an
ice scraper.
Otherwise, particles of dust and road grime
chafe in pores and folds, and lead to increased
wear and premature degradation of the leather
surface.
After washing the vehicle
After washing the vehicle, apply the brakes
briefly to dry them; otherwise, braking action can
be reduced and corrosion of the brake discs can
occur.
To guard against discoloration, such as from
clothing, provide leather care roughly every two
months.
Fully remove an residue from the windows; oth‐
erwise, streaking may occur when the wind‐
shield wipers are activated, impairing your view
and causing wiper noise.
Clean light-colored leather more frequently as
dust and dirt are more noticeable.
Use leather care products; otherwise, dirt and
grease will gradually break down the protective
layer of the leather surface.
Vehicle care
Suitable care products are available from the
service center.
Car care products
BMW recommends using cleaning and care
products from BMW, since these have been
tested and approved.
Upholstery material care
Vacuum regularly with a vacuum cleaner.
If they are very dirty, e.g., beverage stains, use a
soft sponge or microfiber cloth with a suitable
interior cleaner.
Car care and cleaning products
Follow the instructions on the container.
When cleaning the interior, open the doors or
windows.
Clean the upholstery down to the seams using
large sweeping motions. Avoid rubbing the ma‐
terial vigorously.
Only use products intended for cleaning vehi‐
cles.
Damage from Velcro® fasteners
Cleansers can contain substances that are dan‐
gerous and harmful to your health.◀
Open Velcro® fasteners on pants or other
articles of clothing can damage the seat covers.
Ensure that any Velcro® fasteners are closed.◀
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Care
Mobility
grease removers, fuel, or such; this could lead to
surface damage.◀
Caring for special components
Light-alloy wheels
Use wheel cleaner, particularly during the winter
months. Do not use aggressive, acidic, strongly
alkaline or abrasive cleaners, or steam jets
above 140 ℉/60 ℃; follow the manufacturer's
instructions.
Safety belts
Dirty belt straps impede the reeling action and
thus have a negative impact on safety.
No chemical cleaning
Do not clean chemically; this can destroy
the webbing.◀
Chrome surfaces
Carefully clean components such as the radiator
grille or door handles with an ample supply of
water, possibly with shampoo added, particu‐
larly when they have been exposed to road salt.
Use only a mild soapy solution, with the safety
belts clipped into their buckles.
Do not allow the reels to retract the safety belts
until they are dry.
Rubber components
Aside from water, treat only with rubber cleans‐
ers.
Carpets and floor mats
No objects in the area around the pedals
Keep floor mats, carpets, and any other
objects out of the area of motion of the pedals;
otherwise, the function of the pedals could be
impeded while driving
When cleaning rubber seals, do not use any sil‐
icon-containing car care products in order to
avoid damage or reduced noise damping.
Do not place additional floor mats over existing
mats or other objects.
Fine wood parts
Clean fine wood facing and fine wood compo‐
nents only with a moist rag. Then dry with a soft
cloth.
Only use floor mats that have been approved for
the vehicle and can be properly fixed in place.
Ensure that the floor mats are securely fastened
again when they are returned after being re‐
moved, such as for cleaning.◀
Plastic components
These include:
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▷
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Imitation leather surfaces.
Headliner.
Floor mats can be removed from the passenger
compartment for cleaning.
Lamp lenses.
When returning the floor mats, secure them
again to prevent slipping.
Instrument cluster cover.
Matte black spray-coated components.
Painted parts in the interior.
If the floor carpets are very dirty, clean with a
microfiber cloth and water or a textile cleaner. To
prevent matting of the carpet, rub back and forth
in the direction of travel only.
Clean with a microfiber cloth.
Moisten the cloth lightly with water if necessary.
Do not soak the headliner.
Sensors/cameras
To clean sensors or cameras, use a cloth mois‐
tened with a small amount of glass cleaner.
Do not use cleansers that contain alcohol
or solvents
Do not use cleansers that contain alcohol or sol‐
vents, such as lacquer thinners, heavy-duty
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Displays/screens
Clean the displays with an anti-static microfiber
cloth.
Cleaning displays
Do not use chemical or household cleans‐
ers.
Keep all fluids and moisture away from the unit.
Otherwise, they could affect or damage surfa‐
ces or electrical components.
Avoid pressing too hard when cleaning and do
not use abrasive materials; otherwise, damage
can result.◀
Long-term vehicle storage
Your service center can advise you on what to
consider when storing the vehicle for longer
than three months.
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