BMW serie 7 1999 ユーザーズマニュアル

ページ / 211
125
n
Repairs
Index
Overview
Controls
Car care
Technology
Data
Antilock Brake System (ABS)
The concept
ABS enhances active safety by helping 
to prevent the wheels from locking dur-
ing brake applications. The reason: 
Locked wheels are dangerous. When 
the front wheels slide, the driver loses 
steering control over the vehicle. Trac-
tion loss at the rear wheels can cause 
the rear end to break into an uncon-
trolled skid.
The system can achieve the shortest 
braking distances possible under most 
conditions (on straights and in curves, 
on asphalt, ice, wet road surfaces, etc.).
ABS is designed to meet two essential 
requirements during every brake appli-
cation:
> To help provide vehicle stability
> To help maintain steering control and 
maneuverability – on all types of road 
surfaces (asphalt, concrete, mud, wet 
pavement, snow, ice).
Braking with ABS
The system becomes operative once 
the vehicle exceeds a speed of approx. 
6 mph (10 km/h). The ABS is deactivated 
whenever the vehicle's speed drops 
back below approx. 4 mph (6 km/h). This 
means that the wheels can lock in the fi-
nal phase of a panic stop – a factor of no 
significance in actual use.
If you are in a situation which requires 
full braking, you will exploit the full bene-
fits of the ABS system if you apply maxi-
mum brake pressure ("panic stop"). 
Since the vehicle maintains steering re-
sponsiveness, you can avoid possible 
obstacles with a minimum of steering ef-
fort, despite the full brake application.
The ABS system closed-loop control cir-
cuit cycles in fractions of a second. 
A pulsation at the brake pedal indicates 
to the driver that ABS is active, that is, 
that the vehicle is within its maximum 
braking range. In addition, a pulsation – a 
result of the control function cycles – in-
dicates to the driver that vehicle speed 
should be reduced to adapt to road sur-
face conditions when there is reduced 
traction and grip between tires and road 
surface (slippery road surface).
Always depress the brake pedal with 
constant pressure. Keep the brake pedal 
down. Do not pump the brakes.
In driving conditions where there is a 
loose upper surface together with a 
subsurface which provides better trac-
tion (on gravel or snow, for instance), or 
with snow chains, the braking distance 
may also be longer than when the 
wheels are locked. However, ABS con-
tinues to provide enhanced vehicle sta-
bility and steering response under 
these conditions.
Information for your safety
Not even ABS can suspend the laws of 
physics. ABS alone cannot prevent ac-
cidents when the brakes are applied 
without an adequate safety interval be-
tween vehicles, if the car is driven at an 
excessive rate of speed in curves, or if 
aquaplaning occurs. Responsibility for 
these types of situations remains in the 
hands (and at the feet) of the driver. You 
should never allow the added safety of 
ABS to lull you into a false sense of se-
curity, or mislead you into taking in-
creased risks that could affect your own 
safety and that of others. 
Do not make any modifications to 
the ABS system.
Service procedures on ABS are to be 
performed by authorized technicians 
only.
<
 
Online Edition for Part-No. 01 41 9 791 187 - © 12/98 BMW AG