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EnglishDriving tips -> Things to remember when driving 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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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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