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Driving tipsThings to remember when driving
Things to remember when driving
Vehicle equipment
In this chapter, all pr oduction, country, and 
optional equipment that is offered in the model 
range is described. For this reason, descrip-
tions will be given of some equipment that may 
not be available in a vehi cle, for example due to 
the special options or  national-market version 
selected. This also app lies to safety related 
functions and systems.
Break-in period
Moving parts need breaking-in time to adjust to 
each other. Please follo w the instructions below 
in order to achieve the optimal service life and 
economy of operation for your vehicle.
Engine and differential
Always obey all official speed limits.
Up to 1,200 miles/2,000 km
Drive at varying engine and road speeds, but do 
not exceed an engine speed of 4,500 rpm or a 
road speed of 100 mph/160 km/h.
Avoid full-throttle operation and use of the 
transmission's kickdown mode.
After driving 1,200 miles/2,000 km
Engine and vehicle speeds can be gradually 
increased.
Tires
Due to technical factors  associated with their 
manufacture, tires do  not achieve their full 
traction potential until af ter an initial break-in 
period. Therefore, drive cautiously during the 
first 200 miles/300 km.
Brake system
Brakes require an initial break-in period of 
approx. 300 miles/500 km to achieve optimized 
contact and wear patterns between brake pads 
and rotors. Drive cautiously  during this break-in 
period.
Clutch
The function of the clut ch reaches its optimal 
level only after a distance driven of approx. 
300 miles/500 km. During this break-in period, 
engage the clutch gently.
Following part replacement
The same break-in procedures should be 
observed if any of the components mentioned 
above have to be renewe d in the course of the 
vehicle's operating life.
Saving fuel
The fuel consumption of your vehicle depends 
on several factors. You can lower fuel consump-
tion and the environmental impact by taking 
certain measures, adjusting your driving style 
and having the vehicl e serviced regularly.
Remove any unneeded cargo
Additional weight increases fuel consumption.
Remove any mounted parts after you 
have finished using them
Remove unneeded additional mirrors, the roof 
rack and the rear luggage rack after use. 
Mounted parts affect th e vehicle's aerodynam-
ics and increase fuel consumption.
Close the windows and glass roof
An open glass roof or window causes higher 
air resistance and thus increases fuel 
consumption.
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126
Driving tipsThings to remember when driving
Hot exhaust system
In all vehicles, extremely high tempera-
tures are generated in the exhaust sys-
tem. Do not remove the he at shields installed in 
its vicinity, 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 le ad to a fire, with the 
risk of serious personal  injuries and property 
damage. Do not touch hot exhaust tail pipes. 
Otherwise, there is a risk of burns. <
Mobile phones in the vehicle
It is not advisable to use wireless devices 
such as mobile phones inside the vehicle 
without a direct connection  to an external aerial. 
Otherwise, it is not poss ible to exclude the pos-
sibility of a reciprocal  interference occurring 
between the vehicle electronics and the wire-
less device. Otherwise,  there is no assurance 
that the radiation genera ted by the radio trans-
mission will be conveyed out of the passenger 
compartment.<
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 brak e be properly applied.<
The risk of hydropla ning increases with 
declining tread depth on th e tires, refer also to 
Minimum tread depth on page 229.
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 parking brake on inclines
On inclines, do not hold the vehicle for a 
lengthy period using the clutch; use the 
parking brake instead. Otherwise, greater 
clutch wear will result. <
For more information about the drive-off 
assistant, refer to page 90.
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. Sinc e 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.
Objects in the movement range of the 
pedals
Keep floor mats, carpet, and other objects 
out of the movement range of the pedals; 
otherwise, they may inhi bit the function of the 
pedals during driving.
Do not place additional floor mats onto an 
existing one or onto other objects.
Only use floor mats that  have been approved for 
the vehicle and can be appropriately fastened.
Make sure that the fl oor mats are securely 
fastened again after they have been removed, 
e.g. for cleaning. <
Driving in wet conditions
When roads are wet or there is heavy rain, 
briefly exert gentle pre ssure 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. Full 
braking efficiency will th en be available when 
you need it.
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127
Things to remember when driving
Driving tips
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 br aking is required. Even 
light but consistent brak e 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 nec-
essary. This strategy  helps you avoid placing 
excessive loads on the brake system. Down-
shifting in manual mo de of the automatic 
transmission, refer to page 65.
Sport automatic transm ission with double 
clutch: never drive with the transmission 
in neutral or with the en gine switched off; other-
wise, there will be no en gine braking action and 
no power assistance to the brakes and steering.
Manual transmission: never drive with the 
clutch held down, with the transmission in neu-
tral or with the engine switched off; otherwise, 
there will be no engine braking action and no 
power assistance to the brakes and 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 driv en only occasionally, 
during extended periods when the vehicle is not 
used at all, and in operating conditions where 
brake applications are le ss frequent, there is an 
increased tendency for corrosion to form on 
rotors, while contaminan ts 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 
climate control is in operation, and then exits 
under the vehicle. Traces of condensed water 
under the vehicle are therefore normal.
Cargo loading
To avoid loading the tires beyond their 
approved carrying ca pacity, never over-
load the vehicle. Overlo ading can lead to over-
heating and increases the rate at which damage 
develops inside the tires. In some situations, 
this can result in sudden loss of tire pressure. <
Avoid fluid spills in the trunk as they could 
damage the vehicle. <
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 damage to 
the vehicle may occur and unstable driving 
conditions may result.<
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 
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269
Everything from A to Z
Reference
Average speed
77
Avoid highways in 
navigation 143
Avoiding unintentional  alarms 40
Axle loads, refer to  Weights 259
B
Backrests, refer to Seats 50
Backrest width adjustment 51
Back seats, refer to Rear seats
– adjusting head restraints 52
Backup lamp, replacing  bulb 247
Bag for skis, refer to Ski  bag 118
Band-aids, refer to First aid 
pouch 251
Bar, refer to Tow-starting,  towing away 253
Base plate for telephone or  mobile phone
– refer to Snap-in adapter 199
Bass, tone control 155
Battery 248
– charging 248
– disposal 42,249
– jump starting 251
– replacing 248
– temporary power failure 248
Battery renewal
– remote control for vehicle 41
Being towed 253
Belts, refer to Safety belts 54
Belt tensioner,  refer to Safety 
belts 54
Beverage holders, refer to  Cupholders 116
Blower, refer to Air  volume 108 Bluetooth, activating/
deactivating 189
Bluetooth audio 180
– disconnecting an audio  connection 183
– pairing device 181
– playback 182
– unpairing device 183
– what to do if … 183
BMW Assist 212
– updating 216
BMW Info 206
BMW Maintenance  System 237
BMW Online 214
Bottle holders, refer to 
Cupholders 116
Brake Assist, refer to Dynamic  Brake Control 89
Brake fluid
– service requirements 80
Brake Force Display 96
Brake lamps
– brake force display 96
– replacing bulb 247
Brake pads, breaking in 124
Brake pedal, refer to Braking  safely 126
Bra k
e rotors 127
– brakes 124
– breaking in 124
Brakes
– ABS 89
– BMW Maintenance 
System 237
– braking safely 126
– breaking in 124
– parking brake 63
– service requirements 80Brake system
124
– BMW Maintenance 
System 237
– breaking in 124
– disc brakes 127
Breakdown services, refer to  Roadside Assistance 251
Breaking in the clutch 124
Break-in period 124
Bulb changing, refer to Lamps  and bulbs 243
Button for starting the  engine 61
Buttons on the steering 
wheel 13
C
Calendar 207
– displaying appointment 207
– selecting calendar day 207
California Proposition 65 
warning 6
Call
– accepting 193
– ending 193
– muting the microphone 195
– rejecting 193
Calling, refer to Phone  numbers, dialing 194
Calls
– with multiple parties 194
Can holders, refer to  Cupholders 116
Capacities 259
Capacity of the trunk 259
Car battery, refer to Vehicle 
battery 248
Car care, refer to Care 239
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