overheating BMW X5 4.4I 2000 Owners Manual

22n

Indicator and warning lamps

Technology that monitors itself

Many of the systems of your BMW
monitor themselves automatically, both
during engine starts and while you are
driving. Indicator and warning lamps
that are identified by "

l

" are tested for
proper functioning whenever the igni-
tion key is turned. They each light up
once for different periods of time.
If a fault should occur in one of these
systems, the corresponding lamp does
not go out after the engine is started or
it lights up while the vehicle is moving.
You will see how to react to this below.

Red: stop immediately

Battery charge current

l

The battery is no longer being
charged. There is a malfunction
of the alternator V-belt or in the charg-
ing circuit of the alternator. Please
contact the nearest BMW center.
If the V-belt is defective, do not
continue driving. The engine could
be damaged due to overheating. If the
V-belt is defective, increased steering
effort is also required.

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Engine oil pressure

l

Stop the vehicle immediately
and switch off the engine.
Check the engine oil level; top up as re-
quired. If the oil level is correct: please
contact the nearest BMW center.
Do not continue driving. The en-
gine could be damaged because
of inadequate lubrication.

<
Parking brake
*/
Brake hydraulic system l
Comes on when you engage the
parking brake.
For additional information: refer to
page 65.
Comes on although the parking brake
is released: have the brake fluid level
checked. Before continuing your jour-
ney, be sure to read the notes on
pages 123 and 141.
Also comes on in the Check Control
with the message "CHECK BRAKE
LININGS."
Parking brake warning lamp
*/
Brake hydraulic system for
Canadian models.

IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
119n
Catalytic converter Antilock Brake System (ABS)
Be sure to comply with the in-
structions above to prevent un-
burned fuel from reaching the catalytic
converter. Otherwise, the catalytic con-
verter could respond by overheating,
leading to serious damage.
Extreme temperatures occur at the cat-
alytic converter on this and every cata-
lyst-equipped vehicle. Heat shields are
installed adjacent to some sections of
the exhaust system. Never remove
these shields; do not apply undercoat-
ing to their surfaces. When driving,
standing at idle, and parking the vehi-
cle, take care to avoid contact between
the exhaust system and flammable ma-
terials (grass, hay, leaves, etc.). Such
contact could lead to a fire, resulting in
serious personal injury and property
damage.<
The concept ABS enhances active safety by helping
to prevent the wheels from locking un-
der braking. This is because: locked
wheels are dangerous. When the front
wheels slide, the driver loses steering
control over the vehicle. Traction loss at
the rear wheels can cause the rear end
to break into an uncontrolled skid.
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:
>To help provide vehicle stability.
>To help retain steering and maneu-
vering capability on all types of road
surfaces (asphalt, cement, dirt, wet
surfaces, snow and ice).
Braking with ABS The system becomes operative once
the vehicle exceeds a speed of approx.
6 mph (10 km/h). The ABS is deactivated
whenever the vehicle's speed drops
back below approx. 4 mph
(6 km/h).
To shorten the braking distance Ñ espe-
cially on steep, poor road surfaces when
driving slowly straight ahead Ñ the sys-
tem allows one or both front wheels to
lock for a short time. Nevertheless, the
vehicle still retains steering response
since this "poor road logic" is deacti-
vated again automatically as you steer.
If you are in a situation that requires full
braking, you will exploit the full beneÞts
of the ABS system if you apply maxi-
mum brake pressure ("panic stop").
Since the vehicle maintains steering
responsiveness, you can avoid possible
obstacles with a minimum of steering
effort, despite the full brake application.
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

122n
Disc brakes Disc brakes furnish optimum decelera-
tion and braking control and greater
fade resistance under heavy use.
When the vehicle is driven only occa-
sionally, during extended periods when
the vehicle is not used at all, and in op-
erating conditions where brake applica-
tions are less frequent, there is an in-
creased tendency for corrosion of the
rotors and accumulation of contamina-
tion on the brake pads. This occurs be-
cause the minimal pressure which must
be exerted by the pads to clean the ro-
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.
For your own safety: use only
brake pads that BMW has re-
leased 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.<
Driving notes When driving in wet conditions and in
heavy rain, it is advisable to apply light
pressure to the brake pedal every few
miles (kilometers). Watch traffic condi-
tions to ensure that this maneuver does
not endanger other road users. The
heat which is generated by the brake
applications helps to dry the brake
pads and rotors.
Maximum braking force is obtained
while the wheels continue to rotate,
peaking when the wheels remain on the
verge of locking without actually doing
so. ABS maintains this state automati-
cally. If the ABS fails, you should revert
to the staggered braking technique
(refer to page 124).
Extended or steep mountain descents
do not necessarily have to lead to re-
duced braking efficiency. Move the se-
lector lever to the appropriate lower
range in which only minimal periodic
brake applications are required.
You can increase the engine's braking
effect by selecting progressively lower
gears, downshifting as far as 1st gear,
on steep descents. If engine braking should prove to be in-
adequate, you should still avoid ex-
tended, continuous braking. Instead of
maintaining low to moderate pressure
over an extended period of time, you
should decelerate by applying more
substantial pressure to the brake pedal
(watch for following traffic), then releas-
ing the pedal, then repeating the appli-
cation. This staggered braking tech-
nique allows the brakes to cool in the
intervals between active braking
phases, preventing overheating and en-
suring that full braking capacity remains
available at all times.
Do not coast with the selector le-
ver in ÒNeutralÒ. Do not drive with
the engine shut off. The engine pro-
vides no braking effect when the trans-
mission is in ÒNeutralÒ, and there is no
power-assist for braking or steering
when the engine is not running.
Have brake inspections performed at
an authorized BMW center only. If you
do not, parts of the four-wheel drive
system could be damaged.
Never allow floor mats, carpets or any
other objects to protrude into the area
around the accelerator and brake ped-
als and obstruct their movement.<