Your BMW is equipped with ABS as stan-
dard. The best way to achieve optimized
response from the ABS is to apply maxi-
mum pressure to the brake pedal during
emergency: panic stops. Since the vehicle
maintains steering responsiveness, 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. Even light but con-

sistent pedal pressure can lead to high
temperatures, brake wear and possibly
even brake failure.

Driving in wet conditions

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.

Hills

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 brak-
ing 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
pages

and

. This strategy helps you

avoid placing excessive loads on the brake
system.

Never drive with the clutch pressed or
allow the vehicle to coast with the

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

Corrosion on the brake rotors

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 minimum
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.

Brake pads

The brake pad wear warning lamp
lights up and a message appears on
the Check Control. Please note any

supplementary information that appears
there.

Warning lamp for Canadian models.

The brake pads have reached their mini-
mum pad thickness. Have them replaced at
your BMW center as soon as possible.

This manual is related to the following products:

530i Sedan 2004 545i Sedan 2004 2004 525I Sedan