BMW 2009 X6 xDrive50i Owner's Manual

Page of 317
Things to remember when driving
144
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 other-
wise 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 condi-
tions. 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
.
BMW X5: you can operate your vehicle on 
uphill and downhill gradients with a maxi-
mum slope of 50%.
>
On very steep downhill slopes, use Hill 
Descent Control HDC, refer to page
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
.
>
If the drive wheels spin on one side, depress 
the accelerator pedal sufficiently so that the 
driving stability control systems can distrib-
ute 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.
Online Edition for Part no. 01 41 2 600 809 - © 09/08 BMW AG