BMW 3 Series Cabrio tyre pressures
Front 32 psi (2.2 bar), rear 38 psi (2.6 bar) on the standard 17-inch wheels, and the figures for the other wheel size it was sold with. Manufacturer data, checked cold.
| Wheels | Tyre size | Front | Rear |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17"standard | 225/45R17 / 245/40R17 | 32 psi · 2.2 bar | 38 psi · 2.6 bar |
| 18" | 225/40R18 / 255/35R18 | 35 psi · 2.4 bar | 42 psi · 2.9 bar |
Manufacturer figures for the BMW 3 Series Cabrio (E46), normal load, tyres cold. If the label on your door pillar or fuel flap says something different, go with that.
Resetting the tyre pressure warning light on your BMW
BMW has two systems: the indirect Flat Tyre Monitor, common on older cars and those with run-flat tyres, and the Tyre Pressure Monitor, with sensors in the wheels, on most recent cars. Both need a reset after the pressures change.
- Set all four tyres to the correct cold pressure.
- In iDrive, go to My Vehicle (or Vehicle info) > Vehicle status > Tyre Pressure Monitor (or Flat Tyre Monitor).
- Start the engine but don't drive off, then select Perform reset.
- Drive off. Above about 19 mph the new pressures are accepted; on the sensor system the tyres turn green on the screen when it's done.
Older cars without iDrive
- Use the button on the end of the indicator stalk to scroll to the tyre reset item and hold it, or press the separate RESET button, then drive.
When to reset: Reset after every pressure adjustment and every tyre or wheel change.
Exact menu names on the newest iDrive versions may differ. Check the handbook in the car's menu.
Menu names vary by model and year, so check your handbook if yours looks different. More in what the warning light means.
Got a different 3 Series Cabrio? Check by registration
Put your reg in and we'll show the figures for your exact car, including the wheel size it left the factory on.
What tyre pressure should a 3 Series Cabrio have?
32 psi at the front and 38 psi at the rear (2.2 and 2.6 bar) on the standard 17-inch wheels, with the tyres cold. Larger optional wheels use slightly different figures — see the table above.
Should I use a higher pressure when the car is loaded?
The manufacturer gives one figure for this car, so no. If you're carrying a full load for a long motorway run, the label on the door pillar may show a higher figure — follow that if it does.
What tyre size does the 3 Series Cabrio use?
225/45R17, 245/40R17, 225/40R18 or 255/35R18, depending on the wheels it was ordered with. The size is on the tyre's sidewall, e.g. 235/40R18.
Check them cold. Pressures are set for tyres that haven't been driven more than a mile or two. After a run they read 3–4 psi high.
Once a month, and before a long trip. Tyres lose about 1 psi a month on their own.
The sticker wins. If your car's door-pillar or fuel-flap label says something different, go with that — it knows your exact spec.