2009 BMW X5 Owner's Manual - Page 146

Things to remember when driving Driving on poor roads Your BMW is at home on all roads and surfaces. It combines a 4-wheel drive system with the advantages of a normal passenger car. Do not drive on unpaved terrain, as otherwise the vehicle may be damaged.< When you are driving on poor roads, there are a few points which you should strictly observe for your own safety, for that of your passengers, and for the safety of the vehicle: > Familiarize yourself with the vehicle before driving off and avoid taking risks at all costs. > Adapt your driving speed to the road conditions. The steeper and rougher the road surface is, the lower the speed should be. > If you want to drive on very steep uphill or downhill gradients, make sure beforehand that the engine oil and coolant levels are near the MAX mark, refer to page 259. BMW X5: you can operate your vehicle on uphill and downhill gradients with a maximum slope of 50%. > On very steep downhill slopes, use Hill Descent Control HDC, refer to page 98. BMW X5: it is possible to start off on inclines of up to 33%. The permissible body roll is 50%. > While driving, watch carefully for obstacles such as rocks or holes. Try to avoid these obstacles whenever possible. > Make sure that the undercarriage does not touch the ground, for example on crests and bumpy roads. The ground clearance of the vehicle is a maximum of approx. 8 in/20 cm. Please note that the ground clearance can vary depending on loading and the driving conditions of the vehicle. > Only drive through road surface water up to a maximum water depth of > BMW X5 20 in/50 cm > BMW X6 17 in/45 cm and only drive at walking speed; do not remain stationary. > After driving through water at low speed, lightly press the brake pedal several times to dry the brakes and to prevent the braking effect from being reduced by wetness. > Depending on the condition of the surface, it may be practical to briefly activate DTC, refer to DTC Dynamic Traction Control on page 97. > If the drive wheels spin on one side, depress the accelerator pedal sufficiently so that the driving stability control systems can distribute the drive forces to the individual wheels. Please note the following points after driving on poor roads to maintain the driving safety of your BMW: > Clean the coarsest dirt from the body. > Clean mud, snow, ice etc. from the wheels and tires and check the tires for damage. 144 Online Edition for Part no. 01 41 2 600 792 - © 09/08 BMW AG