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EnglishOperation, care and maintenance -> Antilock Brake System (ABS) for your BMW 7 Series 2001-2007
Antilock Brake System (ABS)
129n
On road surfaces that have a loose
The concept
Braking with ABS
surface layer on a firm base with good
traction (on gravel or snow, for in-
stance), braking distances may be
longer than with locked wheels. This is
also true if snow chains are mounted.
However, ABS continues to provide
enhanced vehicle stability and steering
response under these conditions.
ABS enhances active safety by helping The system becomes operative once
to prevent the wheels from locking dur- the vehicle exceeds a speed of approx.
ing brake applications. The reason:
Locked wheels are dangerous. When
the front wheels slide, the driver loses
steering control over the vehicle. Trac-
tion loss at the rear wheels can cause
the rear end to break into an uncon-
trolled skid.
6 mph (10 km/h). The ABS is deactivated
whenever the vehicle's speed drops
back below approx. 4 mph (6 km/h). This
means that the wheels can lock in the fi-
nal phase of a panic stop – a factor of no
significance in actual use.
If you are in a situation that requires full
braking, you will exploit the full benefits
of the ABS system if you apply maximum
brake pressure ("panic stop"). Since the
vehicle maintains steering responsive-
ness, you can avoid possible obstacles
with a minimum of steering effort, de-
spite the full brake application.
With ABS, you will achieve the shortest-
possible braking distances under all
given conditions (braking while driving
straight ahead or in curves, different
road surfaces).
ABS is designed to meet two essential
requirements during every brake appli-
cation:
The ABS system's closed-loop control
circuit cycles in fractions of a second.
A pulsation at the brake pedal, together
with the sounds associated with the
hydraulic controls, tells you that the
brake system is within its maximum
limit range and reminds you that you
should adapt road speed to the road
conditions.
> To help provide vehicle stability
> To help maintain steering control and
maneuverability – on all types of road
surfaces (asphalt, concrete, mud, wet
pavement, snow, ice).
Online Edition for Part No. 01 41 0 004 597 - © 08/99 BMW Group
130nAntilock Brake System (ABS)
Disc brakes
Disc brakes furnish optimum decelera-
tion and braking control and greater
fade resistance under heavy use.
Information for your safety
In the event of a fault
Not even ABS can suspend the laws of
physics. ABS alone cannot prevent
accidents when the brakes are applied
without an adequate safety distance
between vehicles, if the vehicle is
If the ABS warning lamp in the
instrument cluster comes on, re-
fer to page 21. The brake sys-
When the vehicle is driven only occa-
tem then reverts to conventional sionally, during extended periods when
operation as on vehicles without the vehicle is not used at all, and in op-
driven with excessive speed, or if aqua-
ABS. However, have the brake
erating conditions where brake applica-
tions are less frequent, there is an in-
creased tendency for corrosion of the
rotors and accumulation of contamina-
planing occurs. Responsibility for these system checked by your BMW center
types of situations remains in the hands as soon as possible. To prevent unde-
(and at the feet) of the driver. You
tected defects and cumulative faults
should never allow the added safety of from adversely affecting the brake sys- tion on the brake pads. This occurs be-
ABS to lull you into a false sense of
security, or mislead you into taking
increased risks that could affect your
own safety and that of others.
tem, refer any problems to your autho-
rized BMW center at the earliest oppor- be exerted by the pads to clean the ro-
cause the minimal pressure which must
tunity.
tors by brake applications is not
reached.
If the brake rotors are corroded, they
will tend to respond to braking with a
pulsating effect which even extended
application will fail to cure.
Do not make any modifications to
the ABS system.
Service procedures on ABS are to be
performed by authorized technicians
only.<
For your own safety: Use only
brake pads that BMW has ap-
proved for your particular vehicle
model. BMW cannot evaluate non-ap-
proved brake pads to determine if they
are suited for use, and therefore cannot
ensure the operating safety of the vehi-
cle if they are installed.<
Online Edition for Part No. 01 41 0 004 597 - © 08/99 BMW Group
