2010 BMW X3 Owner's Manual - Page 85

Saving fuel The fuel consumption of your vehicle is dependent on various factors. You can improve your vehicle's fuel consumption and reduce the strain on the environment with several measures, your driving style and regular maintenance. Avoiding high engine speeds Only use 1st gear when starting off. Accelerate briskly from 2nd gear while avoiding high engine speeds and shifting up prematurely. When the desired speed is reached, shift into the highest possible gear and drive at constant speed at the lowest possible engine speed. Always remember: driving at low engine speeds decreases fuel consumption and reduces wear. Removing unnecessary cargo Additional weight increases fuel consumption. Using overrun conditions When approaching a red light, take your foot off the accelerator and allow the vehicle to coast in the highest possible gear. Controls Reference Mobility Driving tips On a downhill stretch of road, take your foot off the accelerator and allow the vehicle to coast in the suitable gear. The flow of fuel is interrupted in overrun. Removing attached parts following use Remove auxiliary mirrors, roof or rear luggage racks which are no longer required following use. Attached parts on the vehicle impair the aerodynamics and increase the fuel consumption. Closing windows and panorama glass sunroof An open panorama glass sunroof or an open window also increases the aerodynamic drag, and with it the fuel consumption. Switching off engine during longer stops Switch off the engine during longer stops, e.g. at traffic lights, railroad crossings or in traffic jams. You already save fuel from approx. 4 seconds with the engine switched off. Checking tire inflation pressures regularly Check the tire inflation pressures at least twice a month and before starting off on a longer trip and correct them if necessary. An insufficient tire inflation pressure increases the rolling resistance, therefore increasing fuel consumption and tire wear. Switching off functions currently not required Functions like the air conditioner, seat heating or the rear-window defroster require a lot of energy and consume additional fuel. This plays a major role especially when driving in urban and in stop-and-go traffic. Therefore, switch off these functions when they are not really required. Driving off immediately Do not allow the engine to warm up by leaving it running while the vehicle remains stationary. Instead, drive off immediately at a moderate engine speed. This enables a cold engine to reach its operating temperature most rapidly. Having maintenance carried out Have regular maintenance performed on the vehicle to achieve optimum the economy and service life of your vehicle. BMW recommends having maintenance carried out by a BMW Sports Activity Vehicle Center. Also observe the BMW maintenance system, refer to page 106. Looking well ahead when driving Avoid unnecessary acceleration and braking by maintaining a corresponding distance to the vehicle driving ahead. Driving smoothly and looking ahead reduces fuel consumption. 83 Online Edition for Part no. 01 41 2 602 348 - © 02/09 BMW AG At a glance