2008 BMW 1 Series Owner's Manual - Page 226

Giving and receiving assistance 4. Attach one terminal clamp of the minus/- jumper cable to the negative terminal of the battery or to an engine or body ground of the assisting vehicle. Your BMW has a special nut as body ground or negative pole. Do not transport any passengers other than the driver in a vehicle that is being towed.< Using a tow fitting The screw-in tow fitting must always be carried in the car. It can be screwed in at the front or rear of the BMW. It is stored with the onboard tool kit underneath the floor mat in the cargo bay, refer to page 216. Use only the tow fitting provided with the vehicle and screw it all the way in. Use the tow fitting for towing on paved roads only. Avoid lateral loading of the tow fitting, e.g. do not lift the vehicle by the tow fitting. Otherwise the tow fitting and the vehicle could be damaged.< 5. Attach the second terminal clamp of the minus/- jumper cable to the negative terminal of the battery or to the engine or body ground of the vehicle to be started. Access to screw thread Rectangular cover panel in bumper: Press the arrow on the cover. Starting the engine 1. Start the engine of the donor vehicle and allow it to run for a few minutes at slightly increased idle speed. 2. Start the engine on the other vehicle in the usual way. If the first start attempt is not successful, wait a few minutes before another attempt in order to allow the discharged battery to recharge. 3. Let the engines run for a few minutes. 4. Disconnect the jumper cables by reversing the above connecting sequence. If necessary, have the battery checked and recharged. Never use spray fluids to start the engine.< Front Rear Tow-starting, towing away Observe the applicable laws and regulations for tow-starting and towing vehicles.< Being towed Make sure that the ignition is switched on, refer to page 58, otherwise the low-beam headlamps, tail lamps, turn signal indicators and 224 Online Edition for Part no. 01 41 0 014 691 - © 11/07 BMW AG