Get Driving tips -> Things to remember when driving Guide for BMW X3 SUV 2020

Driving tips

This chapter provides you with information

useful in dealing with specific driving and

operating modes.

Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 960 386 - II/15

Driving tips

Things to remember when driving

Tires

Vehicle features and options

Tire traction is not optimal due to manufactur‐

This chapter describes all standard, country-

specific and optional features offered with the

series. It also describes features that are not

necessarily available in your car, e. g., due to

the selected options or country versions. This

also applies to safety-related functions and

systems. The respectively applicable country

provisions must be observed when using the

respective features and systems.

ing circumstances when tires are brand-new;

they achieve their full traction potential after a

break-in time.

Drive conservatively for the first

200 miles/300 km.

Brake system

Brakes require an initial break-in period of ap‐

prox. 300 miles/500 km to achieve optimal per‐

formance between brake discs and brake

pads. Drive moderately during this break-in pe‐

riod.

Breaking-in period

General information

Moving parts need time to adjust to one an‐

other (break-in time).

Following part replacement

The same break-in procedures should be ob‐

served if any of the components above-men‐

tioned have to be renewed in the course of the

vehicle's operating life.

The following instructions will help accomplish

a long vehicle life and good efficiency.

During break-in, do not use the Launch Con‐

trol, refer to page 79.

Driving on poor roads

The vehicle connects four wheel drive to the

advantages of a normal truck

Engine, transmission, and axle drive

Up to 1,200 miles/2,000 km

Do not exceed the maximum engine and road

speed:

Do not drive on unpaved terrain

Do not drive on unpaved terrain; other‐

wise, the vehicle may be damaged.◀

▷

For gasoline engine 4,500 rpm and

100 mph/160 km/h.

For your own safety, for the safety of passen‐

gers and of the vehicle, heed the following

points:

▷

For diesel engine 3,500 rpm and

93 mph/150 km/h.

Avoid full load or kickdown under all circum‐

stances.

▷

Become familiar with the vehicle before

starting a trip; do not take risks in driving.

▷

Adjust the speed to the road surface con‐

ditions. The steeper and more uneven the

road surface, the slower the speed should

be.

From 1,200 miles/2,000 km

The engine and vehicle speed can gradually be

increased.

▷

When driving on steep uphill or downhill

grades: add engine oil and coolant up to

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Things to remember when driving

Driving tips

near the MAX mark. Uphill and downhill

Hot exhaust system

grades can be traveled up to no more than

50 %.

Hot exhaust system

High temperatures are generated in the

exhaust system.

▷

On steep downhill grades, use Hill Descent

Control HDC, refer to page 125.

Do not remove the heat shields installed and

never apply undercoating to them. Make sure

that flammable materials, e. g. hay, leaves,

grass, etc. do not come in contact with the hot

exhaust system while driving, while in idle po‐

sition mode, or when parked. Such contact

could lead to a fire, resulting in an increased

risk of serious personal injury as well as prop‐

erty damage.

Starting out is possible on uphill grades up

to 30 %. The permissible side tilt is 30 %.

Avoid that the chassis bottom coming in

contact with the ground.

The ground clearance is no more than 7.8

inches/20 cm and can vary according to

the vehicle's load.

▷

When wheels continue to spin, depress the

accelerator so that driving stability control

systems can distribute the driving force to

the wheels. Activate DTC Dynamic Trac‐

tion Control if available.

Do not touch hot exhaust pipes; otherwise,

there is a danger of getting burned.◀

Diesel particulate filter

The diesel particulate filter collects soot parti‐

cles and burns them periodically at high tem‐

peratures.

After a trip on poor roads

After a trip on poor roads, check wheels and

tires for damage to maintain driving safety.

Clear heavy soiling from the body.

During several minutes of cleaning the follow‐

ing may occur:

▷

Temporarily, the engine may run less

smoothly.

General driving notes

▷

Noises and a slight amount of smoke com‐

ing from the exhaust until shortly after the

engine is shut down.

Closing the tailgate

Drive with the tailgate closed

▷

A somewhat higher engine speed is neces‐

sary to reach usual performance.

Only drive with the tailgate closed; other‐

wise, in the event of an accident or braking and

evasive maneuvers, passengers and other traf‐

fic may be injured, and the vehicle may be

damaged. In addition, exhaust fumes may en‐

ter the vehicle interior.◀

Mobile communication devices in the

vehicle

Mobile communication devices in the ve‐

hicle

If driving with the tailgate open cannot be

avoided:

It is not recommended to use mobile phones,

such as mobile phones, in the vehicle interior

without a direct connection to an external aer‐

ial. Otherwise, the vehicle's electronics and

mobile communication devices can interfere

with each other. In addition, there is no assur‐

ance that the radiation generated during trans‐

▷

Close all windows and the glass sunroof.

Greatly increase the air flow from the vents.

Drive moderately.

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Driving tips

Things to remember when driving

mission will be conducted away from the vehi‐

cle interior.◀

Objects within the range of movement

of the pedals

No objects in the area around the pedals

Hydroplaning

Keep floor mats, carpets, and any other

objects out of the pedal area; otherwise, the

function of the pedals could be impeded while

driving and create the risk of an accident.

Hydroplaning

When driving on wet or slushy roads, re‐

duce your speed to prevent hydroplaning.◀

Do not place additional floor mats over existing

mats or other objects.

On wet or slushy roads, a wedge of water can

form between the tires and road surface.

Only use floor mats that have been approved

for the vehicle and can be properly attached to

floor.

This phenomenon is referred to as hydroplan‐

ing. It is characterized by a partial or complete

loss of contact between the tires and the road

surface, ultimately undermining your ability to

steer and brake the vehicle.

Ensure that the floor mats are securely fas‐

tened again after they were removed for clean‐

ing, e.g.◀

Driving through water

Driving in wet conditions

Observe water level and speed

When roads are wet, salted, or in heavy rain,

press brake pedal ever so gently every few

miles.

Do not exceed the maximum water level

and maximum speed; otherwise, the vehicle's

engine, the electrical systems and the trans‐

mission may be damaged.◀

Ensure that this action does not endanger

other traffic.

Drive though calm water only and only if it is

not deeper than 19.6 inches/50 cm and at this

height, no faster than walking speed, up to

3 mph/5 km/h.

The heat generated in this process helps dry

the brake discs and pads.

In this way braking efficiency will be available

when you need it.

Braking safely

Your vehicle is equipped with ABS as a stand‐

ard feature.

Hills

Avoid stressing the brakes

Applying the brakes fully is the most effective

way of braking in situations needed.

Avoid placing excessive stress on the

brake system. Light but consistent brake pres‐

sure can lead to high temperatures, brakes

wearing out and possibly even brake failure.◀

Steering is still responsive. You can still avoid

any obstacles with a minimum of steering ef‐

fort.

Do not drive in neutral

Pulsation of the brake pedal and sounds from

the hydraulic circuits indicate that ABS is in its

active mode.

Do not drive in neutral or with the engine

stopped, as doing so disables engine braking.

In addition, steering and brake assist are un‐

available with the engine stopped.◀

In certain braking situations, the perforated

brake discs can cause functional problems.

However, this has no effect on the perform‐

ance and operational reliability of the brake.

Drive long or steep downhill gradients in the

gear that requires least braking efforts. Other‐

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Things to remember when driving

Driving tips

wise the brakes may overheat and reduce

brake efficiency.

You can increase the engine's braking effect

by shifting down, going all the way to first gear,

if needed.

Brake disc corrosion

Brake disc corrosion and contamination of the

brake pads are favored by:

▷

Low mileage.

Extended periods when the vehicle is not

used at all.

▷

Infrequent use of the brakes.

Corrosion will built up when the maximum

pressure applied to the brake pads during

braking is not reached - thus discs don't get

cleaned.

Corrosion buildup on the brake discs will cause

a pulsating effect on the brakes in their re‐

sponse - generally that cannot be corrected.

Condensation under the parked

vehicle

When using the automatic climate control,

condensation water develops collecting under‐

neath the vehicle.

These traces of water under the vehicle are

normal.

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