2.Release the foot brake and drive away
without delay.
Depending on the vehicle load, the vehicle may
roll back slightly.
Driving off without delay
After releasing the foot brake, start driv‐
ing without delay, since the drive-off assistant
will not hold the vehicle in place for more than
approx. 2 seconds and the vehicle will begin
rolling back.◀
Self-leveling suspension The concept The self-leveling suspension on the rear axle
assures a continuous ground clearance.
To do so, the height of the vehicle is measured
by sensors at both rear wheels.
If the actual height deviates from the defined
height, such as due to cargo in the vehicle, this
difference is compensated very quickly. In ad‐
dition, spring motions resulting from cornering
or irregularities in the road surface are reduced
to a minimum.
The system works automatically.
Malfunctions Malfunctions are displayed via Check Control,
refer to page 85.
Active steering The concept
The active steering actively varies the steering
angle of the front wheels in relation to the
steering wheel movements. In addition, it also
varies the steering force required for steering
depending on the vehicle's speed.
When you are driving in the low speed range,
for instance in a town or when parking, the
steering angle increases, i.e., steering be‐
comes very direct. In the higher speed range,
on the other hand, the steering angle is re‐
duced more and more. This improves the han‐
dling of your vehicle over the entire speed
range.
In critical situations, the system can make tar‐
geted corrections to the steering angle pro‐
vided by the driver and thus stabilize the vehi‐
cle before the driver intervenes.
Malfunction The warning lamp lights up yellow
and a message is shown on the Con‐
trol Display. The active steering is de‐
fective or has been temporarily deac‐
tivated. At low speeds, greater steering wheel
movements are required, whereas at higher
speeds, the vehicle reacts more sensitively to
steering wheel movements. The stability-pro‐
moting intervention can also be deactivated.
Proceed cautiously and drive defensively.
Deactivation
Active steering deactivates in order to carry
out an initialization. This deactivation is dis‐
played by means of a message. The initializa‐ tion can take several minutes.
If the message does not disappear during the
current trip, have the system checked.
Defect In the event of a defect, a corresponding text
message is displayed. Have the system
checked.Seite 110ControlsDriving stability control systems110
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For your own safety and the safety of passen‐
gers and the vehicle, adhere to the following
points:▷Familiarize yourself with the vehicle before
driving; never take risks.▷Adjust speeds according to road condi‐
tions. The steeper and rougher the road
surface is, the lower the speed should be.▷When driving on steep uphill and downhill
grades: the engine oil and coolant should
be filled nearly to the MAX mark.
BMW X5: the vehicle can be driven on up‐
hill and downhill grades up to 50 %.▷Use Hill Descent Control HDC, refer to
page 108, on steep downhill grades.
BMW X5: the vehicle can be driven away
on uphill grades of up to 33 %. The per‐
missible body roll is 50 %.▷Watch for stones, holes, and other obsta‐
cles and drive around these where possi‐
ble.▷On bumps and rough roads, avoid contact
between the vehicle body and the ground.
The maximum ground clearance is 8 in‐
ches/20 cm and may vary with the loaded
cargo.▷When driving through water, do not exceed
the maximum water height.▷BMW X5: 20 inches/50 cm▷BMW X6: 17 inches/45 cm
Drive at walking speed only and do not
stop the vehicle.
▷After driving through water, press on the
brake pedal several times at low speeds to
dry the brakes.▷Depending on the prevailing terrain, acti‐
vate Dynamic Traction Control DTC, refer
to page 106, briefly.▷When the wheels spin, accelerate to ena‐
ble the driving stability control systems to
distribute the drive force to the individual
wheels.▷The stone chip guard reduces the risk of
damage to painted vehicle components,
such as in the area of the side skirts and
wheel arches. Your service center will be
glad to advise you.
After driving on poor roads
Adhere to the following points to ensure vehi‐
cle safety:
▷Remove excessive accumulations of dirt
and mud from the vehicle body.▷Clear mud, snow, ice, etc., from the wheels
and tires and check for damage.Seite 159Things to remember when drivingDriving tips159
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