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EnglishDriving tips -> Saving fuel for your BMW 3 Series 2018-2025
Driving tips
Saving fuel
Saving fuel
Vehicle equipment
Close the windows and glass
sunroof
Driving with the glass sunroof and windows
open results in increased air resistance and
raises fuel consumption.
All standard, country-specific and optional
equipment that is offered in the model series is
described in this chapter. Therefore, equip‐
ment is also described that is not available in a
vehicle, e. g., because of the selected optional
equipment or country variant. This also applies
for safety-related functions and systems.
Tires
General information
General information
Your vehicle contains advanced technology for
the reduction of fuel consumption and emis‐
sions.
Tires can affect fuel consumption values in
various ways, for instance fuel consumption
can be influenced by the size of the tires.
Check the tire inflation pressure
regularly
Fuel consumption depends on a number of dif‐
ferent factors.
Check and, if necessary, correct the tire infla‐
tion pressure at least twice a month and before
starting on a long trip.
The implementation of certain measures, driv‐
ing style and regular maintenance can have an
influence on fuel consumption and on the envi‐
ronmental impact.
Low tire inflation pressure increases rolling re‐
sistance and thus raises fuel consumption and
tire wear.
Remove unnecessary cargo
Additional weight increases fuel consumption.
Drive away without delay
Do not wait for the engine to warm-up while
the vehicle remains stationary. Start driving
right away, but at moderate engine speeds.
Remove attached parts
following use
Remove auxiliary mirrors, roof or rear luggage
racks which are no longer required following
use.
This is the fastest way for the cold engine to
reach its operating temperature.
Attached parts on the vehicle impair the aero‐
dynamics and increase the fuel consumption.
Look well ahead when
driving
Avoid unnecessary acceleration and braking.
By maintaining a suitable distance to the vehi‐
cle driving ahead of you.
Driving smoothly and looking ahead reduces
fuel consumption.
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Driving tips
In addition, fuel consumption is also deter‐
mined by other factors, such as driving style,
road conditions, maintenance or environmental
factors.
Avoid high engine speeds
Use 1st gear to get the vehicle in motion. Be‐
ginning with 2nd gear, accelerate rapidly.
When accelerating, shift up before reaching
high engine speeds.
When you reach the desired speed, shift into
the highest applicable gear and drive with the
engine speed as low as possible and at a con‐
stant speed.
Switch off any functions that
are not currently needed
Functions such as seat heating and the rear
window defroster require a lot of energy and
consume additional fuel, especially in city and
stop-and-go traffic.
As a rule: driving at low engine speeds lowers
fuel consumption and reduces wear.
The gear shift indicator of your vehicle indi‐
cates the most fuel efficient gear.
Therefore, switch off these functions if they
are not actually needed.
Use coasting conditions
When approaching a red light, take your foot
off the accelerator and let the vehicle coast to
a halt.
Have maintenance carried
out
Have vehicles maintained regularly to achieve
optimal vehicle economy and operating life.
Have the maintenance carried out by your
service center.
On a downhill gradient, take your foot off the
accelerator and let the vehicle roll.
The flow of fuel is interrupted while coasting.
Please also note the BMW Maintenance Sys‐
tem, refer to page 207.
Switch off the engine during
longer stops
Switch off the engine during longer stops, e.g.,
at traffic lights, railroad crossings or in traffic
congestion.
ECO PRO
The concept
ECO PRO supports a driving style that saves
on fuel consumption. For this purpose, the en‐
gine control and comfort functions, e. g. the
climate control output, are adjusted.
Automatic Engine Start/Stop Function
The Auto Start/Stop function of your vehicle
automatically switches off the engine during a
stop.
In addition, context-sensitive instructions can
be displayed that assist in driving in a manner
that optimizes fuel consumption.
If the engine is switched off and then restarted
rather than leaving the engine running con‐
stantly, fuel consumption and emissions are
reduced. Savings can begin within a few sec‐
onds of switching off the engine.
The extension of the range that is achieved as
a result can be displayed in the instrument
cluster.
At a glance
The system includes the following
EfficientDynamics functions and displays:
Using this system can cause certain compo‐
nents of the vehicle to become worn prema‐
turely.
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Saving fuel
▷
▷
By making a slight change to the set tempera‐
ture, or slowly adjusting the rate of heating or
cooling of the passenger compartment, fuel
consumption can be economized.
ECO PRO tips driving instruction, refer to
page 173
▷
ECO PRO climate control, refer to
The outputs of the seat heater and the exterior
mirror heating are also reduced.
The exterior mirror heating is made available
when outside temperatures are very cold.
Activating ECO PRO
Press button repeatedly until ECO
PRO is displayed in the instrument
ECO PRO potential
cluster.
The percentage of potential savings that can
be achieved with the current configuration is
displayed.
Configuring ECO PRO
Via the Driving Dynamics Control
1. Activate ECO PRO.
Display in the instrument cluster
ECO PRO bonus range
2. "Configure ECO PRO"
3. Configure the program.
An extension of the range can
be achieved by an adjusted driv‐
ing style.
Via the iDrive
1. "Settings"
2. "ECO PRO mode"
Or
This may be displayed as the
bonus range in the instrument
cluster.
The bonus range is shown in the range display.
1. "Settings"
The bonus range is automatically reset every
time the vehicle is refueled.
2. "Driving mode"
3. "Configure ECO PRO"
Configure the program.
Driving style
ECO PRO Tip
▷
"Tip at:":
Set ECO Pro speed at which an ECO PRO
Tip is to be displayed.
▷
"ECO PRO speed warning":
A reminder is displayed if the set ECO PRO
speed is exceeded.
In the tachometer, a mark in the bar display in‐
dicates the current efficiency of the driving
style.
ECO PRO climate control
"ECO PRO climate control"
The climate control is adjusted to be fuel-effi‐
cient.
Mark in the CHARGE area, arrow 1: display for
energy recovered by coasting or when braking.
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Mark in the POWER area, arrow 2: display
when accelerating.
Symbol Measure
Automatic transmission: switch
from M/S to D and avoid manual
shift interventions.
The efficiency of the driving style is shown by
the color of the bar:
▷
Blue display: efficient driving style as long
as the mark moves within the blue range.
Manual shift transmission: follow
shifting instructions.
▷
Gray display: adjust driving style, e. g. by
backing off the accelerator pedal.
Manual shift transmission: engage
neutral for engine stop.
The display switches to blue as soon as all
conditions for fuel-economy-optimized driving
are met.
Indications on the Control Display
EfficientDynamics
Information on fuel consumption and technol‐
ogy can be displayed during driving.
ECO PRO Tip - driving instruction
The arrow indicates that the
driving style can be adjusted to
be more fuel efficient by backing
off the accelerator for instance.
1. "Vehicle Info"
2. "EfficientDynamics"
Note
Displaying fuel consumption history
The average fuel consumption can be dis‐
played within an adjustable time frame.
The driving style display and ECO PRO tips in
the instrument cluster appear when the ECO
PRO display is activated.
Vertical bars show consumption for the se‐
lected time frame.
Activating driving style and ECO PRO tips:
1. "Settings"
Trip interruptions are represented below the
bar on the time axis.
2. "Info display"
3. "ECO PRO Info"
"Consumption history"
Adjusting fuel consumption history
time frame
ECO PRO tip - Symbols
An additional symbol and a text instruction are
displayed.
Select the symbol.
Symbol Measure
Resetting fuel consumption history
1. Open "Options".
For efficient driving style, back off
the accelerator or delay accelerating
to allow time to assess road condi‐
tions.
2. "Reset consumption history"
Displaying EfficientDynamics info
The current efficiency can be displayed.
"EfficientDynamics info"
Reduce speed to the selected ECO
PRO speed.
The following systems are displayed:
▷
Automatic engine start-stop function.
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▷
▷
▷
Energy recovery.
▷
▷
Battery charge status temporarily too low
or vehicle electrical system drawing exces‐
sive current.
Climate control output.
Coasting.
Cruise control activated.
Display ECO PRO tips
Functional requirements
"ECO PRO Tips"
In ECO PRO mode, this function is available in
a speed range from approximately 30 mph, ap‐
prox. 50 km/h to 100 mph, approx. 160 km/h, if
the following conditions are satisfied:
The setting is stored for the profile currently in
use.
Coasting
▷
▷
▷
Accelerator pedal and brake pedal are not
operated.
The concept
The system helps to conserve fuel.
The selector lever is in transmission posi‐
tion D.
To do this, under certain conditions the engine
is automatically decoupled from the transmis‐
sion when transmission position D is engaged.
The vehicle continues traveling with the engine
idling to reduce fuel consumption. Transmis‐
sion position D remains engaged.
Engine and transmission are at operating
temperature.
Display
Display in the instrument cluster
This driving condition is referred to as coast‐
ing.
The mark in the bar display be‐
low the tachometer is backlit in
blue and is located at the zero
point. The tachometer approxi‐
mately indicates idle speed.
As soon as the brake or accelerator pedal is
depressed, the engine is automatically coupled
to the transmission again.
The coasting point indicator is illuminated at
the zero point during coasting.
Hints
Coasting is a component of the ECO PRO, re‐
Indications on the Control Display
The function is available in a certain speed
range.
The Coasting driving condition is displayed in
EfficientDynamics Info while this driving mode
is active.
A forward-looking driving style helps the driver
to use the function as often as possible and
supports the fuel-conserving effect of coast‐
ing.
Safety mode
The function is not available if one of the fol‐
lowing conditions is satisfied.
▷
▷
DSC OFF or TRACTION activated.
Driving in the dynamic limit range and on
steep uphill or downhill grades.
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Functional requirement
The function is only available in ECO PRO
mode.
Calling up ECO PRO Analyser
Via the Driving Dynamics Control
1. Activate ECO PRO.
2. "EfficientDynamics"
Color code blue, arrow 1, and symbol, arrow 2:
driving condition Coasting.
3.
Select the symbol.
Display
Displaying EfficientDynamics info
1. "Vehicle Info"
Display on the Control Display
2. "EfficientDynamics"
3.
"EfficientDynamics info"
Deactivating the system manually
The function can be deactivated in the Config‐
use the braking effect of the engine when trav‐
eling downhill.
The setting is stored for the profile currently in
use.
The display of the ECO PRO Analysers con‐
sists of a symbolized road route and a lookup
table.
ECO PRO Analyser
The concept
The system helps in this situation to develop
an especially efficient driving style and to con‐
serve fuel.
The road symbolizes the efficiency of the driv‐
ing style. The more efficient the driving style,
the smoother the depicted road route be‐
comes, arrow 1.
The table of values contains stars. The more
efficient the driving style, the more stars are in‐
cluded in the table and the faster the bonus
range increases, arrow 2.
For this purpose, the driving style is analyzed.
The assessment is done in various categories
and is displayed on the Control Display.
If, on the other hand, the driving style is ineffi‐
cient, a wavy road and a reduced number of
stars is displayed.
Using this indication, the individual driving
style can be oriented toward conserving fuel.
The last fifteen minutes of a trip are evaluated.
To assist with an efficient driving style, ECO
PRO tips are displayed during the drive.
The range of the vehicle can be extended by
an efficient driving style. This gain in range is
displayed as a bonus range in the instrument
cluster and on the Control Display.
Tips about the energy saving driving style,
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