Get Operation, care and maintenance -> Caring for your car Guide for BMW 7 Series 4 Door Fourth Generation (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.<

Online Edition for Part No. 01 41 0 004 597 - © 08/99 BMW Group

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.

Online Edition for Part No. 01 41 0 004 597 - © 08/99 BMW Group

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.<

Online Edition for Part No. 01 41 0 004 597 - © 08/99 BMW Group

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.<

Caring for your car

159n

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.

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.

Operation, care and maintenance -> Caring for your car for Your BMW 7 Series 4 Door Fourth Generation (2001-2007)

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