BMW x5 2000 Manual Do Utilizador

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181
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Level control system
 
Xenon lamps
The level control system for the rear 
axle maintains constant ground clear-
ance of your vehicle, even when carry-
ing a load. 
For this purpose, the vehicle is 
equipped with air springs instead of 
steel springs at the rear axle. With the 
help of two sensors, an electronic 
control unit calculates the height of the 
body at all times and, if it is required, it 
allows air which is generated in a com-
pressor to flow into the air springs. 
As a result of the pressure increase in 
the air springs, the level control system 
ensures not only constant ride height, 
but also ride comfort which is indepen-
dent of the load the vehicle is carrying. 
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Xenon lamps illuminate the side and 
front areas of the vehicle with signifi-
cantly more brightness and uniformity 
than traditional halogen lamps. 
In a xenon lamp, an electric arc re-
places the filament in order to generate 
intense illumination. A gas mixture in a 
quartz glass tube with metal vapor is 
ignited by a high electric voltage. The 
arc that is generated is then sustained 
by a lower voltage. When the lamp is 
turned on there is a brief period of high 
intensity. Maximum brightness is 
attained in approx.15 seconds. 
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Xenon lamps provide significantly-im-
proved visibility, especially during ad-
verse weather conditions and driving 
situations (driving at night in heavy rain 
or through road repair areas where 
there are no lane markers, for instance). 
Vehicles with xenon lamps
 
are 
equipped with automatic headlamp 
range control. As a result, the highway 
is always optimally lighted, regardless 
of load conditions, and drivers in on-
coming traffic are not blinded. 
Xenon lamps make a significant contri-
bution to highway safety since other 
highway users, or bicyclists and motor-
cyclists in the right lane, and pedestri-
ans are more easily detected. 
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