BMW 2009 X3 Owner'S Manual Download Page 111

Page: 111 / 146

109

Hand washes

When washing the vehicle by hand, use ample
water and optionally Auto Shampoo. Clean the
vehicle with gentle pressure, using a sponge or
a washing brush.

Before cleaning the windshield, deacti-
vate the rain sensor or switch off the igni-

tion in order to prevent undesired wiper activa-
tion.

Obey local regulations for washing vehi-
cles by hand.

Headlamps

Do not rub dry and never use abrasives or
strong solvents to clean the covers.
Use shampoo or insect remover to soften
insects and then rinse with ample water.
Remove accumulated ice and snow with win-
dow deicer, not a scraper.

Windows

Use glass cleaner to clean outer and inner sur-
faces of windows and mirror glass.

Do not clean mirror glass with cleansers
that contain powdered quartz.

Wiper blades

Clean with soapy water and replace regularly to
prevent streaking.

Wax residues and dirt on the windshield
cause streaking during wiper operation

and lead to premature wear on wiper blades and
can cause the rain sensor to malfunction.

Caring for vehicle finish

Regular care and maintenance helps your vehi-
cle retain its value and protects its finish against
the long-term effects of finish-damaging sub-
stances.
Environmental factors that occur locally or
regionally can have a negative impact on the fin-
ish of your vehicle and may damage it. It is
therefore important to adjust the frequency and
extent of vehicle care accordingly.

Immediately remove particularly corrosive sub-
stances such as spilled fuel, oil, grease, brake
fluid, tree sap, or bird droppings; otherwise,
they can damage the finish.

Repairing damages to finish

Depending on the severity of the damage,
have stone damage or scratches touched

up immediately in order to prevent rust from
forming.

BMW recommends having paint damage pro-
fessionally repaired in accordance with factory
guidelines using Genuine BMW finish materials.

Waxing

It is time to wax the vehicle when water no
longer beads on the clean surface of the paint.
Use only products that contain carnauba wax or
synthetic waxes to protect the finish.

Rubber seals

Only treat with water or rubber cleaner.

To avoid noise or damage, do not use
care products that contain silicone when

caring for rubber seals.

Chrome parts

Carefully clean parts such as the radiator grille,
door handles, or window frames with ample
water and added shampoo, particularly when
they have been exposed to road salts. Use
chrome polish for additional treatment.

Light-alloy wheels

By design, the system produces dust during
braking, which settles on the light-alloy wheels.
Remove it frequently with an acid-free wheel
cleaner.

Do not use corrosive, acid-containing,
strongly alkaline, or coarse cleansers or

steam cleaners hotter than 140

/60

; oth-

erwise, you can damage your vehicle.

Aluminum running boards

Superficial rust on the aluminum running
boards can be removed with a special cleanser.

Online Edition for Part no. 01 41 2 601 104 - © 08/08 BMW AG