Driving tips
113Reference
At a glance
Controls
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
device can influence one another. In addition,
there is no assurance that the radiation which
results from transmission will be dissipated
from the vehicle interior.<
Interior and exterior mirrors, automatic
dimming feature*
The automatic dimming feature of the interior
and exterior mirrors
* is controlled by two photo
cells in the interior rearview mirror. One photo
cell is in the mirror frame, see arrow; the other is
on the back of the mirror.
In order to ensure that the system functions
correctly, keep the photo cells clean, do not
cover the area between the interior rearview
mirror and windshield, and do not affix adhesive
labels or stickers of any kind to the windshield
directly in front of the mirror.
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 sur-
face. This situation, known as hydroplaning,
means that the tire can completely lose contact
with the road surface, so that neither the car can
be steered nor the brake be properly applied.<
The risk of hydroplaning increases with declin-
ing tread depth on the tires, refer also to Mini-
mum tread depth on page188.
Driving through water
Drive through water on the road only if it is
not deeper than 1 ft/30 cm, and then only
at walking speed at the most. Otherwise, the
vehicle's engine, the electrical systems and the
transmission may be damaged.<
Use the handbrake on inclines
On inclines, do not hold the vehicle with
the clutch; use the handbrake. Otherwise
greater clutch wear will result.<
For more information about the drive-off assis-
tant, refer to page82.
Braking safely
Your BMW is equipped with ABS as a standard
feature. Applying the brakes fully is the most
effective way of braking in situations in which
this is necessary. Since the vehicle maintains
steering responsiveness, you can still avoid
possible obstacles with a minimum of steering
effort.
Pulsation of the brake pedal, combined with
sounds from the hydraulic circuits, indicate that
ABS is in its active mode.
Driving in wet conditions
When roads are wet or there is heavy rain,
briefly exert gentle pressure on 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
To prevent overheating and the resulting
reduced efficiency of the brake system,
drive long or steep downhill gradients in the
gear in which the least braking is required. Even
light but consistent brake pressure can lead to
high temperatures, brake wear and possibly
even brake failure.<
You can increase the engine's braking effect by
shifting down, all the way to first gear if neces-
sary. This strategy helps you avoid placing
excessive loads on the brake system. Down-
shifting in manual mode of the automatic trans-
mission, refer to page55.
Never drive with the clutch held down,
with the transmission in idle or with the
engine switched off; otherwise, engine braking
action will not be present or there will be no
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Things to remember when driving
114 power assistance to the brakes or steering.
Never allow floor mats, carpets or any other
objects to protrude into the area around the
pedals, otherwise pedal function could be
impaired.<
Corrosion on brake rotors
When the vehicle is driven only occasionally,
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 minimum
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 application will fail to
cure.
When the vehicle is parked
Condensation forms while the automatic cli-
mate control is in operation, and then exits
under the vehicle. Traces of condensed water
under the vehicle are therefore normal.
Before driving into a car wash
For general information about taking care of
your BMW, refer to the Caring for your vehicle
brochure.
With convenient access and automatic
transmission
Insert the remote control into the ignition
switch.
The engine can be switched off when the selec-
tor lever is in position N. Refer also to page36.
Cargo loading
To avoid loading the tires beyond their
approved carrying capacity, never over-
load the vehicle. Overloading can lead to over-
heating and increases the rate at which damage develops inside the tires. The ultimate result
can assume the form of a sudden blow-out.<
Determining loading limit
1.Locate the following statement on your
vehicle's placard
*:
The combined weight of occupants
and cargo should never exceed
XXX kg or YYY lbs. Otherwise, overloading
can result in damage to the vehicle and
unstable driving conditions.<
2.Determine the combined weight of the
driver and passengers that will be riding in
your vehicle.
3.Subtract the combined weight of the driver
and passengers from XXX kilograms or YYY
pounds.
4.The resulting figure equals the available
amount of cargo and luggage load capacity.
For example, if the YYY amount equals
1,400 lbs. and there will be five 150-lb. pas-
sengers in your vehicle, the amount of avail-
able cargo and luggage load capacity is
650 lbs:
1,400 lbs. minus 750 lbs. = 650 lbs.
5.Determine the combined weight of luggage
and cargo being loaded on the vehicle. That
weight may not safely exceed the available
cargo and luggage load capacity calculated
in step 4.
6.If your vehicle will be towing a trailer, part of
the load from your trailer will be transferred
to your vehicle. Consult the manual for
transporting a trailer to determine how this
may reduce the available cargo and luggage
load capacity of your vehicle.
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Reference 219
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
"Auto. headlamps"91
Automatic
– air distribution97
– air flow rate97
– cruise control58,60
– headlamp control90
– service notification176
– storing of stations145
Automatic climate control95
– automatic air distribution97
– settings via iDrive96
Automatic curb monitor47
Automatic lamps, refer to
Automatic headlamp
control90
"Automatic programs" with
automatic climate control97
Automatic recirculated-air
control AUC97
Automatic station search145
Automatic transmission with
Steptronic54
– interlock54,55
– overriding selector lever
lock56
– shiftlock, refer to Changing
selector lever position55
– sport program55
– towing205
– tow-starting205
"Automatic ventilation"99
AUTO program for automatic
climate control97
"Autostore"
– on the radio146
AUX-IN
– port105
AUX-In, refer to External audio
device158
Average fuel consumption68
– setting the units70
Average speed68
"Avoid ferries" in
navigation131
"Avoid highways" in
navigation131
Avoid highways in
navigation131Avoiding unintentional
alarms35
"Avoid tollroads" in
navigation131
Axle loads, refer to
Weights212
"A - Z"168
B
Backrest contour, refer to
Lumbar support42
Backrests, refer to Seat
adjustment41
Backrest width adjustment42
Back seats
– refer to Rear seats43
Back seats, refer to Rear seats
– adjusting head restraints43
Backup lamps
– replacing bulbs200
Backup lamps, refer to Tail
lamps200
Balance, tone control141
Band-aids, refer to First-aid
pouch203
Bar, refer to Towing
methods206
Bass, tone control141
Bass sounds, refer to Tone
control141
Bass sounds, refer to Treble
and bass141
Battery201
– charging201
– disposal37,201
– jump starting204
– remote control28
– temporary power failure201
Battery renewal
– remote control37
– remote control for vehicle36
Being towed205
Belt hand-over46
Belts, refer to Safety belts45
Belt tensioner, refer to Safety
belts45
Beverage holders, refer to
Cup holders105Blinds, refer to Roller sun
blinds104
Blower, refer to Air flow
rate97
Bluetooth, refer to separate
Owner's Manual
BMW Assist175
– enabling175
– services offered176
"BMW Contact"170
"BMW Contact
Numbers"170
BMW Homepage4
BMW Maintenance
System196
"BMW Service"177
"BMW Service settings"176
BMW webpage4
Bottle holders, refer to Cup
holders105
Bracket for telephone or
mobile phone
– refer to Snap-in adapter in
the center armrest storage
compartment104
Brake assist, refer to Dynamic
Brake Control DBC81
Brake fluid, refer to Service
requirements71
Brake Force Display87
Brake lamps
– replacing bulbs200
– two-stage87
Brake pads112
– breaking in112
Brake rotors114
– brakes112
– breaking in112
Brakes
– ABS81
– BMW Maintenance
System196
– breaking in112
– handbrake54
– service requirements71
Brakes, refer to Braking
safely113
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Everything from A - Z
220 Brake system112
– BMW Maintenance
System196
– breaking in112
– disc brakes114
Breakdown services, refer to
Roadside Assistance203
Breaking in the clutch112
Breaking in the differential,
refer to Engine and
differential112
Break-in period112
Brightness of the Control
Display79
"Brightness"on the control
display79
Bulb changing, refer to Lamps
and bulbs198
Burned fuel
– refer to Average
consumption68
Button for starting the engine,
refer to Start/stop button52
Buttons on the steering
wheel11
Button to start engine52
C
California Proposition 65
warning6
"Call"168
Call
– accepting166
– displaying accepted168
– ending167
– in absence168
– starting167
Calling
– from phone book167
– from Top 8 list168
– redialing168
Can holders, refer to Cup
holders105
Capacities213
Capacity of the cargo bay212
Car battery, refer to Vehicle
battery201Car care, refer to Caring for
your vehicle brochure
Car-care products, refer to
Caring for your vehicle
brochure
"Car Data"68
Care, refer to Caring for your
vehicle brochure
Cargo, securing115
Cargo bay
– capacity212
– convenient access36
– folding up the floor
panel108
– lamp, refer to Interior
lamps93
– opening from inside33
– opening from outside33
Cargo loading
– securing cargo115
– stowing cargo115
– vehicle114
Caring for artificial leather,
refer to Caring for your
vehicle brochure
Caring for leather, refer to
Caring for your vehicle
brochure
Caring for plastic, refer to
Caring for your vehicle
brochure
Caring for the carpet, refer to
Caring for your vehicle
brochure
Caring for the vehicle finish,
refer to Caring for your
vehicle brochure
Car jack
– jacking points201
Car key, refer to Integrated
key/remote control28
Car phone162
– installation location, refer to
Center armrest104
– refer to Mobile phone162
– refer to separate Owner's
Manual
Car radio, refer to Radio144Car wash114
– also refer to Caring for your
vehicle brochure
– with convenient access36
Catalytic converter, refer to
Hot exhaust system112
"Categories" for satellite
radio150
CBS Condition Based
Service196
"CD"140,152
CD changer152
– compressed audio files152
– controls140
– fast forward/reverse156
– installation location156
– playing a track154
– random order155
– repeating a track155
– selecting a CD152
– selecting a track153
– switching on/off140
– tone control141
– volume141
CD player152
– compressed audio files152
– controls140
– fast forward/reverse156
– playing a track154
– random order155
– repeating a track155
– selecting a track153
– switching on/off140
– tone control141
– volume141
Center armrest104
Center brake lamp
– replacing bulbs200
Center console, refer to
Around the center
console14
"Central locking"30
Central locking
– from inside32
– from outside29
Central locking system29
– convenient access35
– hotel function33
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