BMW serie 3 sedan 2000 Manual Do Utilizador

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Disc brakes
Disc brakes furnish optimum decelera-
tion and braking control and greater 
fade resistance under heavy use. 
When the vehicle is driven only occa-
sionally, during extended periods when 
the vehicle is not used at all, and in oper-
ating conditions where brake applica-
tions are less frequent, there is an 
increased tendency for corrosion of the 
rotors and accumulation of contamina-
tion on the brake pads. This occurs 
because the minimal pressure that must 
be exerted by the pads to clean the 
rotors by brake applications is not 
reached.
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.
For your own safety: Use only 
brake pads that BMW has ap-
proved for your particular vehicle 
model. BMW cannot evaluate 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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Driving notes
When driving in wet conditions and in 
heavy rain, it is effective to apply light 
pressure to the brakes every few miles 
or kilometers. Be aware of traffic condi-
tions to ensure that this maneuver does 
not endanger other road users. The 
heat that is generated by the brake ap-
plications helps to dry the brake pads 
and rotors.
Maximum braking force is obtained 
while the wheels are not locked, but 
rather when they are still barely turning 
immediately prior to locking. ABS main-
tains this state automatically. If the ABS 
fails, you should revert to the staggered 
braking technique described above on 
page 
.
Long or steep mountain descents do 
not necessarily lead to reduced braking 
efficiency if you drive downhill with the 
transmission in a gear that allows mini-
mal brake applications (or, with an au-
tomatic transmission, in an appropriate 
lower range).
You can further increase the engine's 
braking effect by selecting a lower gear, 
downshifting as far as first gear or plac-
ing the selector lever in position 1.
Should engine braking prove inade-
quate, you should still avoid extended, 
continuous braking. Instead of main-
taining low to moderate pressure over 
an extended period of time, you should 
decelerate by applying more substantial 
pressure to the brake pedal (watch for 
following traffic), releasing the pedal, 
and then repeating the application 
(staggered braking). The cooling phases 
between active braking intervals pre-
vent the brakes from overheating, thus 
ensuring that full braking capacity re-
mains available at all times.
Do not coast with the clutch de-
pressed or with the shift lever or 
selector lever in neutral. Do not drive 
with the engine shut off. The engine 
provides no braking effect when the 
clutch is depressed or the transmission 
is in neutral, and there is no power-
assist for braking or steering when the 
engine is not running.
Do not allow floor mats, carpets or any 
other objects to protrude into the area 
around the brake pedal, the clutch or 
the accelerator which could obstruct 
their freedom of movement.
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Online Edition for Part No. 01 41 0 155 024 - © 07/99 BMW AG