BMW 2009 X6 xDrive50i Owner's Manual

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speed. This is the fastest way for the cold 
engine to reach its operating temperature.
Thinking ahead when driving
Avoid unnecessary acceleration and braking. 
To do so, maintain the appropriate distance 
from the vehicle in front of you. An anticipatory 
and smooth driving style reduces fuel con-
sumption.
Avoiding high engine speeds
Driving at a low engine speed reduces fuel con-
sumption and minimizes wear.
Taking advantage of coasting
The flow of fuel is interrupted when coasting.
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 heat-
ing, or rear window defrosting consume a lot of 
energy and require additional fuel. Their influ-
ence 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.
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 pay attention to 
the BMW maintenance system, refer to 
page
.
General driving notes
Closing liftgate
Operate the vehicle only when the liftgate 
is completely closed. Otherwise, exhaust 
fumes could enter into the passenger compart-
ment.
<
If it is absolutely necessary to drive with the lift-
gate open:
1.
Close all windows as well as the glass sun-
roof
*
/panorama glass sunroof
*
.
2.
Increase the air volume of the automatic cli-
mate control to a high level, refer to 
page
Hot exhaust system
As in all vehicles, extremely high temper-
atures are generated on the exhaust sys-
tem. 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.
<
Diesel particulate filter*
Soot particles are collected in the diesel partic-
ulate filter and are periodically cleared out 
through high-temperature combustion. This 
cleaning process lasts for several minutes. You 
may sometimes notice it by the fact that the 
engine temporarily runs a little less smoothly 
and requires a somewhat higher engine speed 
to achieve the usual power. You may also notice 
additional sounds and small amounts of smoke 
coming from the exhaust, even for a brief time 
after switching off the engine.
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 sur-
face. This phenomenon is referred to as hydro-
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