Driving your x5 – BMW X5 4.8is SAV 2004 User Manual

Page 139

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137

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Overview

Controls

Maintenance

Repairs

Data

Index

Driving your X5

On bad roads

When you are driving on bad roads,
there are a few points which you should
strictly observe — for your own safety,
for that of your passengers, and for the
safety of the vehicle:

Driving on unpaved terrain can
cause damage to the vehicle.

<

>

Always adapt the driving speed to the
road conditions. The rougher or
steeper the road surface is, the lower
the speed should be

>

You can operate your vehicle on
uphill and downhill gradients with a
maximum slope of 50 %. If you want
to drive on uphill or downhill gradi-
ents of this kind, make sure before-
hand that the engine oil and coolant
levels are near the max mark. Refer
to pages

148

and

150

.

Use the HDC Hill Descent Control on
steep downhill gradients, refer to
page

96

.

It is possible to start off on gradients
of up to 32%.
The permitted side tilt is also 50 %

>

While driving, watch carefully for
obstacles such as rocks or holes. Try
to avoid these obstacles whenever
possible

>

Please note that, for example on
crests and bumpy roads, the body
can make ground contact.
The ground clearance of the vehicle
is:
– 8 in/200 mm with up to four persons
– 7 in/180 mm fully loaded, without

self-leveling suspension

>

Only drive through water up to a
maximum depth of 20 in/50 cm and
only at walking speed, making sure
not to stop in the process.
After leaving the water, press on the
footbrake gently several times while
driving at a low speed. The brake
applications will help to dry the
brakes, thus preventing a reduction in
braking performance caused by the
moisture.

Back onto paved road

In recommending that you observe the
following points after driving on adverse
road surfaces, it is not as a beauty
treatment for your BMW. Instead, it is
intended for the maintenance of driving
safety:

>

Clean the largest accumulations of
dirt from the body and check the
underbody for damage

>

Clean mud, snow, ice etc. from the
wheels and tires and check the
wheels for damage

>

Check to determine whether rocks,
gravel or accumulations of dirt on the
brake rotors and calipers could influ-
ence braking performance. Remove
all such foreign objects

>

In order to clean the brake rotors,
apply the footbrake gently several
times while driving at a low speed.
Be sure that following traffic is not
endangered by this

>

For cleaning the handbrake, apply
the lever slightly at approx. 25 mph/
40 km/h and continue to drive for
approx. 200 yards/200 meters, pro-
vided that traffic conditions allow you
to do so.

Online Edition for Part No. 01 41 0 158 286 - © 04/04 BMW AG

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