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EnglishDriving tips for your BMW X3 2018-2024
Driving tips
This chapter provides you with information
useful in dealing with specific driving and
operating modes.
Online Edition 60 386 - II/15
Driving tips
Things to remember when driving
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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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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Driving tips
Loading
Loading
vehicle and unstable driving situations
may result.
Vehicle features and options
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.
2. Determine the combined weight of the
driver and passengers that will be riding in
your vehicle.
Hints
Overloading the vehicle
3. Subtract the combined weight of the driver
and passengers from XXX kilograms or
YYY pounds.
To avoid exceeding the approved ca‐
pacity of the tires, never overload the vehicle.
Overloading can lead to overheating and in‐
creases the rate at which damage develops in‐
side the tires. This could result in a sudden
loss of tire inflation pressure.◀
4. The resulting figure equals the available
amount of cargo and luggage load ca‐
pacity.
For example, if the YYY amount equals
1,000 lbs and there will be four 150 lbs
passengers in your vehicle, the amount of
available cargo and luggage load capacity
is 400 lbs: 1,000 lbs minus 600 lbs =
400 lbs.
No fluids in the cargo area
Make sure that fluids do not leak into the
cargo area; otherwise, the vehicle may be dam‐
aged.◀
Heavy and hard objects
5. Determine the combined weight of lug‐
gage and cargo being loaded on the vehi‐
cle. That weight may not safely exceed the
available cargo and luggage load capacity
calculated in Step 4.
Do not stow any heavy and hard objects
in the car's interior without securing them; oth‐
erwise, they may present a danger to occu‐
pants, e.g., during braking and evasive maneu‐
vers.◀
Determining the load limit
1. Locate the following statement on your ve‐
hicle’s placard:
▷
The combined weight of occupants
and cargo should never exceed XXX kg
or YYY lbs. Otherwise, damage to the
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Loading
Driving tips
Load
Securing cargo
Lashing eyes in the trunk
The maximum load is the sum of the weight of
the occupants and the cargo.
To secure the cargo there are four lashing
eyes in the cargo area.
The greater the weight of the occupants, the
less cargo that can be transported.
Lashing eyes in the trunk with rails
Stowing cargo
▷
Cover sharp edges and corners on the
cargo.
▷
Heavy cargo: stow as far forward as possi‐
ble, directly behind and at the bottom of
the rear passenger seat backrests.
▷
Very heavy cargo: when the rear seat is not
occupied, secure each of the outer safety
belts in the opposite buckle.
To secure the cargo there are four movable
lashing eyes in the cargo area.
▷
▷
▷
If necessary, fold down the rear backrests
to stow cargo.
Do not stack cargo above the top edge of
the backrests.
Use the trunk partition net, refer to
page 166, to protect passengers. Make
sure that objects cannot penetrate the
trunk partition net.
To slide the lashing eyes, press the button, ar‐
row 1. Make sure that the lashing eyes latch at
the new position.
The lashing eyes at the openings in the rails
can be removed.
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Driving tips
Loading
Cargo net, FlexNet
Attachment to the rack
The flexible cargo net is hooked into eyes and
secures the cargo in the cargo area. The stor‐
age net can be attached to the following eyes:
Follow the installation instructions of the roof
rack.
Mounting
Be sure that adequate clearance is maintained
for tilting and opening the glass sunroof.
Loading
Because roof racks raise the vehicle's center
of gravity when loaded, they have a major ef‐
fect on vehicle handling and steering re‐
sponse.
Therefore, note the following when loading
and driving:
▷
▷
Lashing eyes in the rails.
Eyes on the trunk wall.
▷
Do not exceed the approved roof/axle
loads and the approved gross vehicle
weight.
The eyes are located on both sides of the
trunk.
▷
▷
Distribute the roof load uniformly.
Securing cargo
The roof load should not extend past the
loading area.
Securing cargo
Stow and secure the cargo as described;
otherwise it may present a danger to the occu‐
pants, e.g., during braking and evasive maneu‐
vers.◀
▷
▷
▷
▷
Always place the heaviest pieces on the
bottom.
Secure the roof luggage firmly, e.g., tie
with ratchet straps.
▷
Smaller and lighter items: secure with re‐
taining straps or with a cargo net or draw
straps.
Do not let objects project into the opening
path of the tailgate.
Drive smoothly. Avoid sudden acceleration
and braking maneuvers. Take corners gen‐
tly.
▷
Larger and heavy objects: secure with
cargo straps.
Cargo straps, cargo netting, retaining
straps or draw straps on the lashing eyes in
the trunk.
Roof-mounted luggage rack
Note
Installation only possible with roof rack.
Roof racks are available as special accessories.
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Saving fuel
Driving tips
Saving fuel
Vehicle features and options
Close the windows and glass
sunroof
Driving with the glass sunroof and windows
open results in increased air resistance and
thereby reduces the range.
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.
Tires
General information
Tires can affect fuel consumption in various
ways, e.g., tire size may influence fuel con‐
sumption.
General information
Your vehicle contains advanced technology for
the reduction of fuel consumption and emis‐
sions.
Check the tire inflation pressure
regularly
Check and, if needed, correct the tire inflation
pressure at least twice a month and before
starting on a long trip.
Fuel consumption depends on a number of dif‐
ferent factors.
Carrying out certain measures, such as a mod‐
erate driving style and regular maintenance,
can influence fuel consumption and the envi‐
ronmental impact.
Low tire inflation pressure increases rolling re‐
sistance and thus raises fuel consumption and
tire wear.
Drive away immediately
Remove unnecessary cargo
Do not wait for the engine to warm-up while
the vehicle remains stationary. Start driving
right away, but at moderate engine speeds.
Additional weight increases fuel consumption.
Remove attached parts
following use
This is the quickest way of warming the cold
engine up to operating temperature.
Remove auxiliary mirrors, roof or rear luggage
racks which are no longer required following
use.
Look well ahead when
driving
Attached parts on the vehicle impair the aero‐
dynamics and increase the fuel consumption.
Avoid unnecessary acceleration and braking.
By maintaining a suitable distance to the vehi‐
cle driving ahead of you.
Driving smoothly and proactively reduces fuel
consumption.
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Saving fuel
road conditions, maintenance or environmental
factors.
Avoid high engine speeds
As a rule: driving at low engine speeds lowers
fuel consumption and reduces wear.
Use 1st gear to get the vehicle moving. Start‐
ing with the 2nd gear, accelerate rapidly. When
accelerating, shift up before reaching high en‐
gine speeds.
Switch off any functions that
are not currently needed
Functions such as seat heating and the rear
window defroster require a lot of energy and
reduce the range, especially in city and stop-
and-go traffic.
When you reach the desired speed, shift into
the highest applicable gear and drive with the
engine speed as low as possible and at a con‐
stant speed.
Reel off these functions if they are not needed.
The ECO PRO driving program supports the
energy conserving use of comfort features.
These functions are automatically deactivated
partially or completely.
If necessary, observe the gear shift indicator of
the vehicle, refer to page 87.
Use coasting
When approaching a red light, take your foot
off the accelerator and let the vehicle coast to
a halt.
Have maintenance carried
out
Have vehicles maintained regularly to achieve
optimal vehicle efficiency and operating life.
The maintenance should be carried out by
your service center.
For going downhill take your foot off the accel‐
erator and let the vehicle roll.
The flow of fuel is interrupted while coasting.
Also note the BMW Maintenance System, refer
to page 215.
Switch off the engine during
longer stops
Switch off the engine during longer stops, e.g.,
at traffic lights, railroad crossings or in traffic
congestion.
ECO PRO
The concept
ECO PRO supports a driving style that saves
on fuel consumption. For this purpose, the en‐
gine control and comfort features, e. g. the cli‐
mate control output, are adjusted.
Auto Start/Stop function
The Auto Start/Stop function of your vehicle
automatically switches off the engine during a
stop.
Under certain conditions the engine is auto‐
matically decoupled from the transmission in
the D selector lever position. The vehicle con‐
tinues traveling with the engine idling to re‐
duce fuel consumption. Selector lever position
D remains engaged.
If the engine is switched off and then restarted
rather than leaving the engine running con‐
stantly, fuel consumption and emissions are
reduced. Savings can begin within a few sec‐
onds of switching off the engine.
In addition, fuel consumption is also deter‐
mined by other factors, such as driving style,
In addition, context-sensitive instructions are
displayed to assist with an optimized fuel con‐
sumption driving style.
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Driving tips
The achieved extended range is displayed in
the instrument cluster as bonus range.
The output is reduced once the set ECO
PRO speed is reached.
Overview
Coasting
The system includes the following
EfficientDynamics functions and displays:
Fuel-efficiency can be optimized by disengag‐
ing the engine and Coasting, refer to
page 185, with the engine idling.
▷
▷
ECO PRO bonus range, refer to page 183.
This function is only available in ECO PRO
mode.
ECO PRO tips driving instruction, refer to
page 184
▷
▷
ECO PRO climate control, refer to
page 183.
ECO PRO climate control
"ECO PRO climate control"
ECO PRO coasting driving status, refer to
page 185.
Climate control is set to be fuel-efficient.
By making a slight change to the set tempera‐
ture, or slowly adjusting the rate of heating or
cooling of the car's interior, fuel consumption
can be economized.
Activate ECO PRO
Press button repeatedly until ECO
PRO is displayed in the instrument
The mirror heating is made available when out‐
side temperatures are very cold.
cluster.
Configuring ECO PRO
ECO PRO potential
Shows potential savings with the current set‐
tings in percentages.
Via the Driving Dynamics Control
1. Activate ECO PRO.
2. "Configure ECO PRO"
Display in the instrument cluster
ECO PRO bonus range
3. Configure the program.
Via the iDrive
1. "Settings"
2. "ECO PRO mode"
Or
An adjusted driving style helps
you extend your driving range.
This may be displayed as the
bonus range in the instrument
cluster.
1. "Settings"
The bonus range is shown in the range display.
2. "Driving mode"
3. "Configure ECO PRO"
Configure the program.
The bonus range is automatically reset every
time the vehicle is refueled.
ECO PRO Tip
▷
"Tip at:":
Adjust the ECO PRO speed.
"ECO PRO speed warning":
▷
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Efficiency display
ECO PRO tip, driving tip
The arrow indicates that the driving
style can be adjusted to be more fuel
efficient by backing off the accelerator
Display in the instrument cluster
for instance.
Note
The efficiency display and ECO PRO tips in the
instrument cluster appear when the ECO PRO
display is activated.
Activating driving style and ECO PRO tips:
1. "Settings"
Display in the instrument cluster with extended
range
2. "Instrument cluster"
3. "ECO PRO Info"
ECO PRO tip, symbols
An additional symbol and text instructions are
displayed.
Symbol Measure
For efficient driving back off the ac‐
celerator or delay accelerating to al‐
low time to assess road conditions.
A mark in the efficiency display informs about
the current driving style.
Reduce speed to the selected ECO
PRO speed.
Mark in the area of arrow 1: display of the en‐
ergy recovered by coasting or when braking.
Steptronic transmission: shift from
M/S to D.
Mark in the area of arrow 2: display when ac‐
celerating.
Your driving style's efficiency is shown by the
bar's color:
Indications on the Control Display
EfficientDynamics
Information on fuel consumption and technol‐
ogy can be displayed while driving.
▷
Blue display: efficient driving style as long
as the mark moves within the blue range.
▷
Gray display: adjust driving style, e. g. by
backing off the accelerator pedal.
1. "Vehicle info"
The display switches to blue as soon as all
conditions for fuel-efficiency-optimized driving
are met.
2. "EfficientDynamics"
Displaying fuel consumption history
The average fuel consumption can be dis‐
played within an adjustable time frame.
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Driving tips
Vertical bars show consumption for the se‐
lected time frame.
As soon as you step on the brake or accelera‐
tor pedal, the engine is automatically coupled
again.
Trip interruptions are represented below the
bar on the time axis.
Hints
"Consumption history"
Coasting is a component of the ECO PRO, re‐
fer to page 182, driving mode.
Adjusting fuel consumption history
time frame
Coasting is automatically activated when ECO
PRO mode is called via the Driving Dynamics
Control.
Select the symbol.
The function is available in a certain speed
range.
Resetting fuel consumption history
1. Open "Options".
A proactively driving style helps the driver to
use the function as often as possible and sup‐
ports the fuel-conserving effect of coasting.
2. "Reset consumption history"
Displaying EfficientDynamics info
The current efficiency can be displayed.
"EfficientDynamics info"
Safety mode
The function is not available under one of the
following conditions.
The following systems are displayed:
▷
▷
▷
▷
Auto Start/Stop function.
Energy recovery.
Climate control output.
Coasting.
▷
▷
DSC OFF or TRACTION activated.
Driving in the dynamic limit range and on
steep uphill or downhill grades.
▷
Battery charge status temporarily too low
or vehicle electrical system drawing exces‐
sive current.
Display ECO PRO tips
▷
Cruise control activated.
"ECO PRO Tips"
Settings are stored for the profile currently in
use.
Functional requirements
In ECO PRO mode, this function is available in
a speed range from approximately 30 mph, ap‐
prox. 50 km/h to 100 mph, approx. 160 km/h, if
the following conditions are met:
Coasting
The concept
▷
▷
▷
Accelerator pedal and brake pedal are not
operated.
The system helps to conserve fuel.
To do this, under certain conditions the engine
is automatically decoupled from the transmis‐
sion when selector lever position D is set. The
vehicle continues traveling with the engine
idling to reduce fuel consumption. Selector
lever position D remains engaged.
The selector lever is in selector lever posi‐
tion D.
Engine and transmission are at operating
temperature.
The driving status Coast can be influenced
with the shift paddles.
This driving condition is referred to as coast‐
ing.
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Saving fuel
Display
Display in the instrument cluster
Color code blue, arrow 1, and symbol, arrow 2:
driving condition Coasting.
Displaying EfficientDynamics info
1. "Vehicle info"
The mark in the efficiency display is backlit in
blue and is located at the zero point. The tach‐
ometer approximately indicates idle speed.
2. "EfficientDynamics"
The coasting point indicator is illuminated at
the zero point during coasting.
3.
"EfficientDynamics info"
Deactivating the system manually
Display in the instrument cluster with
extended range
The function can be deactivated in the Config‐
ure ECO PRO, refer to page 183, menu, e.g., to
use the braking effect of the engine when trav‐
eling downhill.
The mark in the efficiency dis‐
play below the tachometer is
backlit in blue and is located at
the zero point. The tachometer
approximately indicates idle
speed.
Settings are stored for the profile currently in
use.
The coasting point indicator is illuminated at
the zero point during coasting.
Indications on the Control Display
The Coasting driving condition is displayed in
EfficientDynamics Info while this driving mode
is active.
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