2009 BMW 135 Owner's Manual - Page 99

Drive defensively Avoid unnecessary acceleration and braking maneuvers. To do so, keep an adequate distance to the forward vehicle. A defensive and smooth driving style keeps fuel consumption down. Have the vehicle serviced Have the vehicle serviced regularly to achieve good economy and a long vehicle life. BMW recommends having the vehicle serviced at a BMW center. Also note the BMW service system, refer to page 118. Avoid high engine speeds Only use first gear when setting off. In second and higher gears, accelerate without hesitation or pauses. When accelerating, shift up before reaching high engine speeds. 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 constant speed. As a rule: driving at low engine speeds lowers fuel consumption and reduces wear. General driving notes Close the luggage compartment lid Operate the vehicle only when the luggage compartment lid is closed. Otherwise, exhaust fumes could enter the interior of the vehicle.< If the vehicle must be driven with the luggage compartment lid open: 1. Close all windows and the glass roof. 2. Greatly increase the air volume of the heating or automatic climate control system, refer to page 80 or 83. 3. Greatly increase the air volume of the automatic climate control system, refer to page 83. Coasting When approaching a red light, take your foot off the accelerator and coast to a stop in the highest applicable gear. On a downhill slope, take your foot off the accelerator and coast in a suitable gear. The fuel supply is interrupted when coasting. Hot exhaust system In all vehicles, extremely high temperatures are generated in the exhaust system. Do not remove the heat shields installed in its vicinity, and never apply undercoating to them. When driving, standing at idle and while parking, take care to avoid possible contact between the hot exhaust system and any highly flammable materials such as hay, leaves, grass, etc. Such contact could lead to a fire, with the risk of serious personal injuries and property damage. Do not touch hot exhaust tail pipes. Otherwise there is a risk of burns.< Switch off the engine during lengthy stops Switch off the engine when stopping for lengthy periods, e.g. at traffic lights, railroad crossings or in traffic congestions. You achieve fuel savings even if standing time is as short as approx. 4 seconds. Functions such as the air conditioner, seat heating or rear window defroster draw large amounts of power and consume additional fuel. Especially in city traffic and in stop-and-go driving they have a considerable impact. Therefore, switch these functions off when they are not really needed. Hydroplaning When driving on wet or slushy roads, reduce road speed. If you do not, a wedge of water can form between tires and road surface. This situation, known as hydroplaning, means that the tire can completely lose contact 97 Online Edition for Part no. 01 41 2 600 853 - © 08/08 BMW AG Reference Mobility Switch off functions you do not need at the moment Driving tips Controls At a glance