Get Mobility -> Care Guide for BMW 1 Series 4 Door First Generation (2004-2011)

Care

Do not use high-pressure car washes;

otherwise, water may drip into the vehicle

around the windows.<

Care products

Regular cleaning and care contributes signifi-

cantly to the value retention of your BMW.

Before driving into a car wash, ensure that it is

suitable for your BMW. Check the following:

BMW recommends cleaning and caring for your

vehicle with products that are approved by

BMW for this purpose.

Dimensions of your vehicle, refer to

page 223.

Your BMW center will be happy to advise you on

the products and services available for cleaning

and caring for your BMW.

If necessary, fold in the outside rearview

mirrors, refer to page 50.

Maximum permissible tire width.

Original BMW CareProducts have been

material tested, laboratory checked and

proven in the field, and offer optimal care and

protection for your vehicle.<

Avoid car washes with guide rail heights

over 4 in/10 cm; otherwise, there is the

danger of damaging chassis parts.<

In Convertibles, do not treat the convertible

top with wax. Ensure that a program is avail-

able that does not apply wax or is designed

specifically for convertibles.

Do not use cleaners that contain alcohol

or solvents as these may result in dam-

age.<

Cleaning agents can contain substances

that are dangerous or hazardous to your

health. Therefore, follow the warning and safety

instructions on the packaging. When cleaning

inside the vehicle, always open the doors or

windows of the vehicle. In enclosed areas, pro-

vide for sufficient ventilation. Only use products

designed for cleaning vehicles.<

Preparations before driving into an automatic

car wash:

Unscrew the rod antenna*.

Deactivate the rain sensor* to prevent unin-

tentional wiping.

Remove additional attachments, e.g. spoil-

ers or telephone antennas, if there is a pos-

sibility that they could be damaged.

Exterior care

Automatic transmission

Before driving into an automatic car wash, per-

form the following steps to ensure that the vehi-

cle can roll:

Washing the vehicle

Especially during the winter months,

ensure that the vehicle is washed more

frequently. Heavy soiling and road salt can lead

to vehicle damage.<

1. Insert the remote control into the ignition

lock, even with Comfort Access.

2. Engage transmission position N.

3. Release the parking brake.

4. Switch off the engine.

After washing the vehicle, apply the

brakes briefly to dry them; otherwise,

water can reduce braking efficiency over the

short term and brake discs can corrode.<

5. Leave the remote control in the ignition lock

so that the vehicle can roll.

Automatic car washes

Preference should be given to cloth car washes.

205

Follow these instructions:

Steam jets/high-pressure washers

When using steam jets or high-pressure

washers, ensure that you maintain suffi-

cient clearance to the vehicle and do not exceed

a temperature of 1407/606.

Do not fold the convertible top into the con-

vertible top box when the top is wet or fro-

zen, as this may cause water spots, mold

stains or chafed areas.

Insufficient clearance or excessive pressure or

temperature can lead to component damage or

water penetration. Follow the operating instruc-

tions for the steam jet or high-pressure

washer.<

If water spots occur on the inside headliner

despite precautions, remove them using a

microfiber cloth and interior cleaner.

If the vehicle is parked in enclosed areas for

extended periods, ensure that there is suffi-

cient ventilation.

When using high-pressure washers, do

not spray against the sensors and cam-

eras, e.g. of the Park Distance Control or Rear

View Camera, for an extended period and main-

tain a distance of at least 1 ft/30 cm.<

Remove bird droppings immediately, as

their corrosive ingredients attack the con-

vertible top and damage the rubber seals.

To remove stains from the convertible

top, do not use stain removers, paint thin-

Manual car wash

ners, solvents, benzine or similar substances.

These substances may damage the rubber

parts. Improper care and cleaning may cause

the convertible top and convertible top seams

to become leaky.<

When washing the vehicle by hand, use large

quantities of water and car shampoo if neces-

sary. Clean the vehicle with a sponge or wash-

ing brush, applying light pressure only.

Before cleaning the windshield, deacti-

vate the rain sensor or switch off the igni-

tion to prevent unintentional activation of the

wipers.<

To remove heavy soiling, use a special convert-

ible top cleaner.

Follow the manufacturer's instructions for use.

After washing the convertible top three to five

times, treat it with an impregnating agent.

Observe local regulations pertaining to

washing vehicles by hand.<

Paintwork care

Headlamps

Regular care contributes to value retention and

protects the paintwork against the long-term

effects of damaging substances.

Do not rub them dry and do not use abrasive or

corrosive cleaning agents.

Loosen dirt, e.g. insects, with shampoo or

insect remover and wash away with copious

quantities of water.

Region-specific environmental influences can

damage the vehicle paintwork. Therefore, it is

important to adapt the frequency and scope of

car care accordingly.

Thaw ice with a windshield deicer and do not

use an ice scraper.

Immediately remove aggressive materials such

as spilled fuel, oil, grease, brake fluid, tree sap or

bird droppings to prevent damage to the paint-

work.

Windows

Clean the inside and outside surfaces of the

windows and the mirrors with window cleaner.

Do not clean the mirrors with cleaners

containing quartz.<

Repairing paintwork damage

Immediately repair scratches or similar

damage, such as that caused by stones

hitting the vehicle, where necessary to prevent

rusting.<

Convertible top care

The appearance and life of the convertible top

depend on proper care and operation.

206

BMW recommends having paintwork damage

repaired by a professional paint repair work-

shop according to BMW specifications using

original BMW paint materials.

Interior care

Upholstery fabrics/cloth trims/

Alcantara fabrics

Vacuum regularly with a vacuum cleaner to

remove superficial dirt.

Preservation

A preservation treatment is necessary when

water no longer beads off the clean paintwork

surface. Only use products for paintwork pres-

ervation that contain carnauba or synthetic

waxes.

To remove severe spots such as stains from

beverages, use a soft sponge or lint-free

microfiber cloth and suitable interior cleaners.

Follow the instructions on the packaging.

Clean the upholstery down to the seams

using a sweeping motion. Avoid strong

rubbing.<

Rubber seals

Treat only with water or rubber care products.

Opened Velcro fasteners on pants or

other articles of clothing can damage the

seat covers. Ensure that Velcro fasteners are

closed.<

Do not use silicon-containing care prod-

ucts on rubber seals; otherwise, noise

and damage could occur.<

Chrome parts

Leather/leather trim

Carefully clean vehicle parts such as the radia-

tor grill, door handles or window frames with

copious quantities of water and a shampoo

additive, especially when roads are treated with

de-icing salt. For additional treatment, use a

chrome polish.

The leather used by BMW is a high quality

natural product. Slight irregularities in the

leather are a typical characteristic of natural

leather.<

Dust and road grit in the pores and folds of the

leather have an abrasive effect, leading to

increased wear and causing the leather surface

to become brittle prematurely. Therefore, fre-

quently clean the leather of dust using a cloth or

vacuum cleaner.

Light-alloy wheels

For technical reasons, dust is generated during

braking that is deposited on the light-alloy

wheels. Remove the dust regularly using acid-

free rim cleaner.

Clean light-colored leather more frequently as

dust and dirt are more noticeable.

Do not use aggressive, acidic, strongly

alkaline and abrasive cleaning agents or

steam jets over 1407/606; otherwise, dam-

age may occur.<

Treat the leather at least once every two

months using a leather lotion as dirt and grease

will gradually attack the leather's protective

layer.

Outside sensors/cameras

Carpets/cargo area

Keep the sensors and cameras on the

outside of the vehicle, e.g. those for Park

Distance Control, clean and free of ice to ensure

that they remain fully functional.<

You can vacuum the carpets and floor mats or

clean them with interior cleaner if heavily soiled.

The floor mats can be removed for cleaning.

When replacing the mats, ensure that the seat

rails do not extend over the floor mats, as this

may damage the mats.

207

Lint on the floor mats occurs for technical rea-

sons and can be removed by vacuuming

repeatedly.

Vehicle storage

If your vehicle is to be decommissioned for

longer than three months, your BMW center or

a workshop that operates according to BMW

specifications will be glad to advise you.

Interior plastic parts

Imitation leather surfaces

Lamp glasses

Display pane of instrument cluster

Matte parts

Clean with water and solvent-free plastic

cleaner if necessary.

Fine wood parts

Clean fine wood trim and fine wood parts with a

damp cloth. Wipe dry with a soft cloth.

Safety belts

Dirty belt straps impede the reeling action and

thus have a negative impact on safety.

Do not clean chemically, as this may

destroy the webbing.<

Interior sensors/cameras

To clean interior sensors and cameras, e.g. of

the high-beam assistant, use a lint-free cloth

moistened with glass cleaner.

Displays

To clean displays, e.g. of the radio or instrument

cluster, use a cleaning cloth for displays or a

soft, non-abrasive, lint-free cloth.

Avoid applying excessive pressure when

cleaning the displays; otherwise, damage

may occur.<

Do not use chemical or abrasive house-

hold cleaning agents. Keep all types of

fluid away from the device. Otherwise, surfaces

or electrical components may be corroded or

damaged.<

CD/DVD drives

Do not use a cleaning CD, as it may dam-

age parts of the drive.<

208

Mobility -> Care for Your BMW 1 Series 4 Door First Generation (2004-2011)

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