Deutsch
EnglishOperation, care and maintenance -> Antilock Brake System (ABS) for your BMW 5 Series 1995-2003
Antilock Brake System (ABS)
121n
On road surfaces which have a loose
The concept
Braking with ABS
layer on a firm base (on gravel or snow,
for instance), the braking distances with
ABS may be longer than with the
wheels locked. This is also true if snow
chains are mounted. However, ABS
continues to provide enhanced vehicle
stability and steering response under
these conditions.
ABS enhances active safety by helping The system becomes operative once
to prevent the wheels from locking
when the brakes are applied. This is
done because locked wheels are
dangerous. When the front wheels
slide, the driver loses steering control
over the vehicle. Traction loss at the
rear wheels can cause the rear axle to
break into an uncontrolled skid.
the vehicle exceeds a speed of approx.
6 mph (10 km/h). The ABS is deacti-
vated whenever the vehicle's speed
drops back below approx. 4 mph
(6 km/h). This means that the wheels
can lock in the final phase of a brake
application – a factor of no significance
in actual practice.
With ABS, the shortest possible braking If you are in a situation that requires full
distances are achieved under most
conditions (on straight-aways and in
curves, with different road surfaces).
braking, you will exploit the full benefits
of the ABS system if you apply
maximum brake pressure ("panic
stop"). Since the vehicle maintains
steering responsiveness, you can avoid
possible obstacles with a minimum of
steering effort, despite the full brake
application.
ABS is designed to meet two essential
requirements during every brake appli-
cation:
> To help provide vehicle stability
> To help maintain steering control and
maneuverability – on all types of road
surfaces (asphalt, concrete, mud,
wet, snow, ice).
The ABS system closed-loop control
circuit cycles in fractions of a second.
A pulsing of the brake pedal, combined
with the sounds associated with the
hydraulic controls, tells you that the
brake system is within its maximum
limit range and reminds you that you
should adapt your vehicle's speed to
road conditions.
122nAntilock Brake System (ABS)
Information for your safety
In the event of a fault
Not even ABS can suspend the laws of
physics. The consequences of brake
applications with an adequate safety
distance between vehicles, if the
If the ABS warning lamp in the
instrument cluster lights up,
refer to page 21. The brake
system then reverts to conven-
tional operation as on vehicles
without ABS. However, have the
brake system checked by your BMW
vehicle is driven at excessive speeds in
curves, or during aquaplaning remain
the responsibility of the driver. You
should never allow the added safety of center as soon as possible. To prevent
ABS to lull you into a false sense of undetected defects and cumulative
security, or mislead you into taking risks faults from adversely affecting the
that could affect your own safety and
that of others.
brake system, refer any problems to
your BMW center at the earliest oppor-
tunity.
Do not make any modifications to
the ABS system.
Service procedures on ABS are to be
performed by authorized technicians
only.<
