BMW serie 3 sport wagon 2002 Manual Do Utilizador

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Brake system
Brake fluid level 
If the brake fluid level is too low and 
brake pedal travel has become longer, 
there may be a defect in one of the two 
brake system's hydraulic circuits.
Proceed to the nearest BMW 
center. It may be necessary to 
apply higher levels of pressure to the 
pedal when stopping and braking 
distances may also be longer. Please 
remember to adapt your driving style 
accordingly.
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Disc brakes
Limited vehicle use, extended periods 
with the vehicle parked or in storage, 
and operating conditions in which 
braking is restricted to gentle, low-
pressure applications will all increase 
the tendency for corrosion to form on 
the rotors; this is often accompanied by 
a simultaneous accumulation of 
contamination on the brake pads. The 
pads must exert a certain minimal level 
of pressure against the rotors for the 
disc brakes' inherent self-cleaning 
effect to remain effective; the pressure 
available under the above conditions 
may not provide adequate cleansing.
If the brake rotors are corroded, they 
will tend to respond to braking with a 
pulsating effect that even extended 
brake applications will fail to cure.
When driving in heavy rain and on wet 
roads it is useful to apply light pressure 
to the brake pedal every few miles. 
Monitor traffic conditions to ensure that 
this maneuver does not pose a hazard 
to you or to other road users. The heat 
generated in this process helps dry the 
pads and rotors to ensure that your 
brake system will respond with undi-
minished efficiency when you need it.
When descending steep hills and 
extended grades, downshift to a gear 
that will allow you to continue safely 
with only a minimal amount of braking. 
By minimizing the loads placed on the 
brake system, this strategy helps 
ensure that optimal brake system 
response will remain available at all 
times. Use care to avoid exceeding the 
approved engine-speed range, refer to 
page 
Do not coast with the clutch 
depressed or with the transmis-
sion or selector lever in neutral. Do not 
coast with the engine switched off. The 
engine provides no braking effect when 
the clutch is depressed and there is no 
power-assist for braking or steering 
when the engine is not running. 
BMW 325xi: always refer all brake 
inspection and service work to your 
BMW center, as failure to observe the 
special procedures could result in 
damage to brake system components.
Never allow floor mats, carpets or any 
other objects to protrude into the area 
around the accelerator, clutch and 
brake pedals and obstruct their move-
ment.
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Brake pads
For your own safety: use only 
brake pads that the manufacturer 
has released for your particular vehicle 
model. The manufacturer cannot eval-
uate non-approved brake pads to 
determine if they are suited for use, and 
therefore cannot ensure the operating 
safety of the vehicle if they are 
installed.
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Online Edition for Part No. 01 41 0 156 156 - © 09/01 BMW AG