BMW 2008 Z4 Owner'S Manual Download Page 78

Page: 78 / 132

Things

to re

memb

er when

driving

pletely lose contact with the road surface, so
that neither the car can be steered nor the brake
be properly applied.

The risk of hydroplaning increases with declin-
ing tread depth on the tires, refer also to Mini-
mum tread depth on page

Driving through water

Drive through water on the road only if it is
not deeper than 1 ft/30 cm, and then only

at walking speed at the most. Otherwise, the
vehicle's engine, the electrical systems and the
transmission may be damaged.

Moisture inside the vehicle

Make sure that the passenger compart-
ment does not become wet and that liq-

uids are transported in closed containers. Oth-
erwise, moisture could penetrate and damage
electronic components inside the vehicle.

Use the parking brake on inclines

On inclines, keep the vehicle from rolling
by using the parking brake rather than by

slipping the clutch, which would lead to a high
degree of clutch wear.

Braking safely

Your BMW is equipped with ABS as a standard
feature. Applying the brakes fully is the most
effective way of braking in situations in which
this is necessary. Since the vehicle maintains
steering responsiveness, you can still avoid
possible obstacles with a minimum of steering
effort.
Pulsation at the brake pedal combines with
sounds from the hydraulic circuits to indicate to
the driver that ABS is in its active mode.

Wet roads

When roads are wet or there is heavy rain,
briefly exert gentle pressure on the brake pedal
every few miles. Watch traffic conditions to
ensure that this maneuver does not endanger
other road users. The resulting heat dries the
brake rotors and brake pads. Immediate braking
force is then available if necessary.

Inclines

To prevent overheating and, as a result,
diminished braking effectiveness, drive

down long or steep downhill grades in the gear
that requires the least braking. Otherwise, even
light but consistent pedal pressure can lead to
high temperatures, brake wear and possibly
even brake failure.

You can increase the engine's braking effect by
shifting down, all the way to first gear if neces-
sary. This strategy helps you avoid placing
excessive loads on the brake system. Down-
shifting in manual mode of the automatic trans-
mission, refer to page

Never drive with the clutch held down,
with the transmission in idle or with the

engine switched off; otherwise, engine braking
action will not be present or there will be no
power assistance to the brakes or steering.
Never allow floor mats, carpets or any other
objects to protrude into the area around the
pedals, otherwise pedal function could be
impaired.

Corrosion on brake rotors

Limited vehicle use, extended periods with the
vehicle parked or in storage, and operating con-
ditions in which braking is restricted to gentle,
low-pressure applications will all increase the
tendency for corrosion to form on the rotors and
contamination to accumulate on the brake
pads. This occurs because the minimal pres-
sure which must be exerted by the pads to
clean the rotors 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.

Brake pads

The warning lamp lights up. The brake
pads have worn down to the minimum
safe limit. Have the brake pads

replaced as soon as possible.