2008 BMW M5 Owner's Manual - Page 131

and smooth driving style reduces fuel consumption. If it is absolutely necessary to drive with the liftgate open: 1. Close all windows and the panorama glass sunroof. 2. Increase the air volume of the automatic climate control to a high level, refer to page 108. Avoiding high engine speeds Driving at a low engine speed reduces fuel consumption and minimizes wear. The flow of fuel is interrupted when coasting. Hot exhaust system As in all vehicles, extremely high temperatures are generated on the exhaust system. Do not remove the heat shields installed adjacent to it, 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, and with it the risk of serious property damage as well as personal injury. Do not touch hot tailpipes, as otherwise there is a danger of burns.< Switching off engine during longer stops Switch off the engine at longer stops such as traffic signals, railroad crossings, or in traffic jams. Even having the engine switched off for approx. 4 seconds results in fuel savings. Switching off functions currently not required Functions such as air conditioning, seat heating, or rear window defrosting consume a lot of energy and require additional fuel. Their influence is particularly pronounced in city traffic and stop & go operation. For this reason, it is a good idea to 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 phenomenon is referred to as hydroplaning, and is characterized by a partial or complete loss of contact between the tires and the road surface, ultimately undermining your ability to steer and brake the vehicle.< The risk of hydroplaning increases as the tread depth of the tires decreases, also refer to Minimum tread depth on page 238. Having maintenance carried out Have the vehicle serviced regularly in order to achieve the optimum economy and service life of your vehicle. BMW recommends having the maintenance performed by a BMW Sports Activity Vehicle Center. Also please pay attention to the BMW maintenance system, refer to page 245. Driving through water General driving notes Closing liftgate/tailgate Operate the vehicle only when the tailgate and liftgate are completely closed. Otherwise, exhaust fumes could enter into the passenger compartment.< Braking safely Your BMW is equipped with ABS as a standard feature. In situations that require it, it is best to brake with full force. Since the vehicle maintains steering responsiveness, you can still avoid 129 Online Edition for Part no. 01 41 0 014 248 - © 08/07 BMW AG Reference Mobility Do not drive through water on the road if it is deeper than 20 in/50 cm, and then only at walking speed at the most. Otherwise, the vehicle's engine, the electrical systems and the transmission may be damaged.< Communications Entertainment Navigation Driving tips Controls Taking advantage of coasting At a glance