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Driving precautions
128
Electrical consumers
When towing a caravan, try to avoid operating
electrical equipment for too long at a time, in
order to limit the drain on the car's battery.
Before starting a journey, check that the
trailer's rear lights are operating correctly.
It is an offence to drive without functioning rear
lights, which would moreover put other road
users at risk.<
Towing a trailer
Observe the speed limit in the country in
which you are driving, but do not exceed
80 km/h, approx. 50 mph, when towing a trailer,
otherwise the outfit may become unstable.<
Counteracting snaking
If the trailer nevertheless begins to snake, the
outfit can only be stabilised by braking hard
immediately. Only attempt to steer out of the
situation if this is absolutely essential, and make
any steering movements as cautiously as pos-
sible and without endangering other road users.
Trailer Stability Control*
The system helps you to neutralise a trailer's
tendency to swing from side to side. It detects
swinging and automatically brakes the car
promptly so that the car is no longer in a critical
road-speed range and the trailer is stabilised.
The system functions whenever the car is tow-
ing a trailer and the power socket for the trailer
is connected, starting at a speed of approx.
65 km/h, approx. 40 mph.
If the power socket for the trailer is in use, but no
trailer is attached due to the use of a bicycle car-
rier with lights, for example, the system may still
be operational in extreme driving situations.
The system is unable to intervene if the trailer
jack-knifes, e.g. on roads that are slippery or
have a loose surface. Trailers with a high centre
of gravity can tip over before a swinging motion
is detected.
The system is not operational if DSC is deacti-
vated or malfunctioning, see page 84.
Gradients
In the interest of safety and to avoid holding up
other traffic, do not attempt to climb gradients
steeper than 12Ξ when towing a trailer. If a
supplementary permit for heavier trailer loads
has been obtained, the limit is 8Ξ, see
page 217.
Downhill gradients
Special care must be taken when descending
gradients, where a trailer is more susceptible to
snaking.
Before starting to descend, always change
down to the next lower gear, if necessary as far
as 1st gear, and drive down the hill slowly.
Climatic comfort
windscreen*
Use the area marked in the illustration for your
garage-door opener, electronic devices for toll
logging, or similar. This area does not have an
infrared-reflecting coating and is clearly distin-
guishable from inside the car.
Online Edition for Part-No. 01 41 0 159 725 © 09/05 BMW AG