BMW 2004 745i Sedan Manual Do Proprietário

 123

to as hydroplaning, and is characterized 
by a partial or complete loss of contact 
between tires and road surface, ultimately 
undermining your ability to steer and brake 
the vehicle.

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Do not drive through water on the 
road if it is deeper than 1 ft/30 cm, 

and then only at walking speed at the most. 
Otherwise, the vehicle's engine, the electri-
cal systems and the transmission may be 
damaged.

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The best way to achieve the best response 
from the ABS is to apply maximum pres-
sure to the brake pedal – panic stop. Since 
the vehicle maintains steering responsive-
ness, you can nevertheless avoid possible 
obstacles with a minimum of steering 
effort. 

Pulsation at the brake pedal combines with 
sounds from the hydraulic circuits to indi-
cate to the driver that ABS is in its active 
mode. 

Do not drive with your foot resting on 
the brake pedal. Otherwise, even light 

but consistent pedal pressure can lead to 
high temperatures, brake wear and possi-
bly even brake failure.

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While driving in wet conditions and in 
heavy rain, it is a good idea to apply light 
pressure to the brake pedal every few 
miles. Monitor traffic conditions to ensure 
that this maneuver does not endanger 
other road users. The heat generated in this 
process helps dry the pads and rotors to 
ensure that full braking efficiency will then 
be available when you need it. 

You can retain full and unimpaired braking 
efficiency by downshifting to a gear in 
which only minimal brake applications are 
needed when descending long or steep 
downhill stretches. 

You can further enhance the engine's 
braking effect by selecting a lower gear 
in the automatic transmission's manual 
mode, downshifting as far as first gear 
on extremely steep stretches, refer to 
page 

. This strategy helps you avoid 

placing excessive loads on the brake sys-
tem. 

Never allow the vehicle to coast with 
the transmission in Neutral – or with 

the engine switched off – as there is no 
engine braking when the transmission is in 
Neutral, and no power-assist for brakes 
and steering when the engine is not run-
ning. 
Never allow floor mats, carpets or any other 
objects to protrude into the area around the 
accelerator and brake pedals and obstruct 
their movement.

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When the vehicle is driven only occasion-
ally, during extended periods when the 
vehicle is not used at all, and in operating 
conditions where brake applications are 
less frequent, there is an increased ten-
dency for corrosion to form on rotors, while 
contaminants accumulate on the brake 
pads. This occurs because the minimal 
pressure which must be exerted by the 
pads during brake applications to clean the 
rotors is not reached. 

Should corrosion form on the brake rotors, 
the brakes will tend to respond with a pul-
sating effect that even extended applica-
tion will fail to cure. 

If the brake pad wear warning lamp 
appears in the Check Control, 
accompanied by a text. Please take 

careful note of the additional information on 
the Control Display. 

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