Things to remember when driving
118
Things to remember when drivingBreak-in procedures To ensure that your vehicle continues to
furnish optimal economy of operation
throughout an extended service life, we
request that you devote careful attention to
the following section. Engine and differential The first 1,200 miles (2,000 km):
During this initial period you should attempt
to avoid constant, steady-state operation
and vary both vehicle and engine speeds
as often as possible. Until the break-in
period has been completed you should
also refrain from exceeding the following:
>4500 rpm and 105 mph (170 km/h)
Always obey all official speed limits.
Avoid full-throttle operation and use of the
transmission's kickdown mode during
these initial miles.
After the first 1,200 miles (2,000 km) you
can gradually increase both engine and
vehicle speeds to their respective maxima.
You should also comply with these break-in
procedures if the engine or differential is
replaced at a later point. Tires Due to technical factors associated with
their manufacture, tires do not achieve their
full traction potential until after an initial
break-in period. We thus urge you to drive
with extra care during the first 200 miles
(300 kilometers). Brake system Brakes require an initial break-in period of
approx. 300 miles (500 km) to achieve
optimal contact and wear patterns
between brake pads and rotors.
General driving notes High temperatures
Extreme temperatures occur at the
catalytic converter on this and every
catalyst-equipped vehicle. Do not remove
the heat shields installed adjacent to
various sections of the exhaust system,
and never apply undercoating to them.
When driving, standing at idle and while
parking take care to avoid possible contact
between the hot exhaust system and any
highly flammable materials such as hay,
leaves, grass, etc. Such contact could lead
to a fire, and with it the risk of serious prop-
erty damage as well as personal injury.<
Parking the vehicle Condensation forms in the air conditioner
system during operation, and then exits
under the vehicle. Traces of condensed
water under the vehicle are thus normal.Aquaplaning
When driving on wet or slushy roads,
reduce road speed. If you do not, a
wedge of water can form between tires and
road surface. This phenomenon is referred
to aquaplaning, and is characterized by a
partial or complete loss of contact between
tires and road surface, ultimately under-
mining your ability to steer and brake the
vehicle.<
Water-covered streets
Do not drive through water on the
road if it is deeper than 1 foot (30 cm),
and then only at walking speed at the most.
Otherwise, the vehicle's engine, the elec-
trical systems and the transmission may be
damaged.<
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119
Brake system Braking with ABS The best way to achieve optimal response
from the ABS is to apply maximum pres-
sure to the brake pedal during emergencyÐ
panic stops. Since the vehicle maintains
steering responsiveness, you can never-
theless avoid possible obstacles with a
minimum of steering effort.
Pulsation at the brake pedal combines with
sounds from the hydraulic circuits to indi-
cate to the driver that ABS is in its active
mode.
Do not drive with your foot resting on
the brake pedal. Even light but
consistent pedal pressure can lead to high
temperatures, brake wear and possibly
even brake failure.< Disc brakes
Driving in wet conditions While driving in wet conditions and in
heavy rain, it is a good idea to apply light
pressure to the brake pedal every few
miles. Monitor traffic conditions to ensure
that this maneuver does not endanger
other road users. The heat generated in this
process helps dry the pads and rotors to
ensure that full braking efficiency will then
be available when you need it. Hills You can retain full and unimpaired braking
efficiency by downshifting to a gear in
which only minimal brake applications are
needed when descending long or steep
downhill stretches.
You can further enhance the engine's
braking effect by selecting a lower gear in
the automatic transmission's manual
mode, downshifting as far as first gear on
extremely steep stretches, refer to
page 68. This strategy helps you avoid
placing excessive loads on the brake
system.
Corrosion When the vehicle is driven only occasion-
ally, during extended periods when the
vehicle is not used at all, and in operating
conditions where brake applications are
less frequent, there is an increased
tendency for corrosion to form on rotors,
while contaminants accumulate on the
brake pads. This occurs because the
minimal pressure which must be exerted by
the pads during brake applications to clean
the rotors is not reached.
Should corrosion form on the brake rotors,
the brakes will tend to respond with a
pulsating effect that even extended appli-
cation will fail to cure.
Never allow the vehicle to coast with
the transmission in neutral Ð or with
the engine switched off; there is no engine
braking when the transmission is in neutral,
and no power-assist for brakes and
steering when the engine is not running.
Never allow floor mats, carpets or any other
objects to protrude into the area around the
accelerator and brake pedals and obstruct
their movement.< Brake pads
If the brake pad wear indicator lamp
appears in the Check Control,
accompanied by a text: please take
careful note of the additional information in
the Control Display panel.
Warning lamp for Canadian models.
The brake pads have reached their
minimum pad thickness. Have them
replaced at your BMW center as soon as
possible.
For your own safety: use only brake
pads that BMW has released for your
particular vehicle model. Because BMW
cannot assess the suitability of other brake
pads for use on your vehicle, we are unable
to assume continued responsibility for the
vehicle's operating safety if non-approved
pads are installed.<
