Things to remember when driving
122
Things to remember when driving
Break-in procedures
To ensure that your vehicle continues to
furnish optimized economy of operation
throughout an extended service life, we
request that you devote careful attention
to the following information.
Engine and differential
Up to 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:
>4,500 rpm or 105 mph/170 km/h
Always obey all official speed limits.
Avoid full-throttle operation and use of the
transmission's kick-down mode during
these initial miles.
Once you have driven 1,200 miles/
2,000 km, the engine or vehicle speeds can
be gradually increased.
Tires
Due to technical factors associated with
their manufacture, tires do not achieve their
full traction potential until after an initial
break-in period. Therefore, drive reservedly
during the first 200 miles/300 km.
Brake system
Brakes require an initial break-in period of
approx. 300 miles/500 km to achieve opti-
mized contact and wear patterns between
brake pads and rotors.
Following component replacements
Observe the break-in instructions again if
previously addressed components must be
replaced again during driving later.
General driving notes
Hot exhaust system
Extreme temperatures occur at the
catalytic converter on this and every
catalyst-equipped vehicle. Do not remove
the heat shields installed adjacent to vari-
ous 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, accompanied by the risk of serious
property damage as well as personal
injury.<
Air conditioning
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.
Before driving into a car wash
1.Fold in the exterior mirrors, refer to
page53, as otherwise they could be
damaged due to the width of the vehicle
2.Leave the remote control in the ignition
lock, as otherwise the P position of the
automatic transmission will automati-
cally be selected when the remote con-
trol is removed. Refer to page63
and69.
With Comfort Access, be sure to
observe the instructions on page63
3.Release the parking brake, especially
when you have activated Automatic
Hold. Refer to page64 and65.
Driving tips
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Hydroplaning
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 as hydroplaning, and is characterized by
a partial or complete loss of contact
between tires and road surface, ultimately
undermining your ability to steer and brake
the vehicle.<
Driving through water
Only drive through water with a maxi-
mum depth of 1 ft/30 cm, and then
only at walking speed at the most. Other-
wise, the vehicle's engine, the electrical
systems and the transmission may be dam-
aged.<
Safe braking
Your BMW is equipped with ABS as stan-
dard equipment. The best way to brake is
to apply maximum pressure to the brake
pedal during emergency: full brake applica-
tion. Since the vehicle maintains steering
responsiveness, you can nevertheless
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.
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 maneu-
ver 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
To prevent overheating and reduced
efficiency of the brake system, drive
long or steep downhill gradients in the gear
in which the least braking is required. Otherwise, even light but consistent pedal
pressure can lead to high temperatures,
brake wear and possibly even brake fail-
ure.<
You can further enhance the engine's brak-
ing 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
page70. This strategy helps you avoid
placing excessive loads on the brake sys-
tem.
Never allow the vehicle to coast with
the transmission in Neutral – or with
the engine switched off – as there is no
engine braking when the transmission is in
Neutral, and no power-assist for brakes
and steering when the engine is not run-
ning.
Never allow floor mats, carpets or any other
objects to protrude into the area around the
accelerator and brake pedals and obstruct
their movement.<
Corrosion on brake rotors
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 ten-
dency 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 pul-
sating effect that even extended applica-
tion will fail to cure.
Mobile communications devices in
vehicle
BMW does not recommend using
mobile communications devices, e.g.
portable phones, in the interior of the vehi-
cle without a direct connection to an out-
side antenna. Otherwise the vehicle elec-
tronics and mobile communications device
can affect each other. In addition, it is not
Mobility
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4.If the coolant is low, slowly add coolant
up to the specified level – do not overfill.
5.Twist closed the cap and tighten firmly
6.Have the reason for the coolant loss
eliminated as soon as possible.
Brake system
Malfunction
Brake fluid
The warning lamp lights up and a
message appears in the Check
Control: stop immediately.
The brake fluid in the reservoir has fallen to
below the minimum level. At the same time,
a considerably longer brake pedal travel
may be noticeable. Have the system
checked immediately.
Warning lamp on Canadian models.
During continued driving increased
brake pedal travel may be necessary,
and considerably longer braking distances
may result. Please adapt your driving style
accordingly.<
Brake pads
For messages and indicator lamps in the
Info Display, refer to page83.
For your own safety: use only brake
pads that BMW has released for your
particular vehicle model. As 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.<
Reference 219
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
"Audio"
– audio mode148
– radio152
Audio148
– adjusting tone149
– controls148
– switching on/off149
– volume149
"AUDIO" for
DVD mode169
Audio mode148
"AUTO", automatic climate
control107
Automatic
– air distribution104
– air supply104
– headlamp control100
– luggage compartment lid
operation36,41
– steering wheel
adjustment54
– windshield washer72
Automatic car wash, refer
to the Caring for your
vehicle brochure
Automatic climate
control103
– rear air conditioner109
– rear cooler114
– settings in Control
Display107
Automatic curb monitor56
Automatic Hold
– parking65
– parking brake65
Automatic recirculated-air
control AUC105
Automatic soft closing
– doors39
– luggage compartment
lid40
Automatic station
search152
Automatic station
storage153Automatic transmission
with Steptronic68
– ignition62
– interlock62
– selector lever interlock68
– shiftlock69
– towing210
"AUTO P"
– function button54
– vehicle65
AUTO program, refer to
Automatic air
distribution104
"AUTOSTOR" for radio154
Average fuel
consumption86
– setting units89
Average speed86
– setting units89
"Avoid highway"137
Avoiding tolls137
"Avoid route"141
"Avoid sect."140
"Avoid tolls"137
Axle loads, refer to
Weights216
"A-Z", telephone179
B
Backrests, refer to Seat
adjustment47,48
Backrest width
adjustment47
Backup lamps, bulb
replacement203
"Balance" in audio
mode150
Bandages, refer to
First-aid kit209
Bar, towing211
"Bass" in audio mode150
Battery207
– indicator lamp207
– jump-starting209
– remote control34
– switch207
"BC", refer to Computer87
Belts, refer to Safety
belts51
Beverage holders116Blower, automatic climate
control103
BMW active seat53
"BMW Assist"182
BMW Assist182
BMW Maintenance
System198
"BMW Services",
BMW Assist182
Bottle holder, refer to
Beverage holders116
Brake fluid197
– indicator lamp13
– level197
Brake Force Display97
Brake hydraulic
systems197
Brake lamps
– adaptive, refer to Brake
force display97
– bulb replacement203
– indicator lamp, defective
lamp83
Brake pad wear indicator,
indicator lamp13
Brake rotors
– brake system123
– break-in122
Brakes123
– ABS92
– brake fluid197
– break-in122
– indicator/warning
lamps13,92,94
– parking brake64
Brake system197
– brake fluid level197
– brake pads82
– break-in122
– disc brakes123
– indicator lamp13
Breakdown recovery, refer
to Roadside
Assistance182
Breakdown service, refer to
Roadside Assistance182
Break-in procedures122
"Brief info", Control
Center22